Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) has emerged a key health problem in Pakistan. It mostly affects the health of pregnant women and school going children. Almost 1/3 children are underweight, and rest are affected by stunting and wasting. Hence, there is a great need to explore use of locally grown traditional crops into modern food products for alleviating malnutrition among the masses. The present project was designed to develop protein enriched, and micro-nutrient fortified doughnuts from different Pakistani white (TH-6, TS- 5, TS-3, Til-89) and black (S-122, S-117, S-131, Latifi) sesame cultivars. The proximate and mineral composition of sesame flours of white and black cultivars revealed varying degree of moisture, protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash and NFE. Regarding antioxidant potential and bioactive components, total phenolics, sesamin, sesamol and sesamolin were ranged from 1.56±0.025 to 7.32±0.219 mg GAE/g, 1521.00±27.30 to 3996.00±129.90 ppm, 3121.00±86.60 to 4303.00±133.37 ppm and 1532.33±31.89 to 3564.00±65.82ppm, respectively. Among the different cultivars, the maximum value of sesamin was observed in TH-6 whereas sesamol and sesamolin concentrations were higher in S-122. It is obvious from the results that sesamin and sesamol contents were higher in white sesame cultivars whereas sesamolin was more in black cultivars. Sensory evaluation of doughnuts revealed maximum liking for product made from TH-6 (8.02±0.24) due to better appearance, palatability, fine texture, chewiness, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability. Concerning various levels of supplementation, doughnuts having 10 g/100g (7.67±0.24) to 20 g/100g (7.43±0.18) of either white or black sesame flours were more suitable due to delicious nutty aroma & flavor of sesame, mild brownish appearance, uniform texture, nutty mouthfeel and overall impression of the end product. Based on consumer acceptability and betterquality attributes, TH-6 (white sesame cultivar) with two supplementation levels (10g/100g and 20g/100g of sesame flour) was selected for further development of doughnuts and assessed for nutritional contents, storage stability, calorific value, protein quality and feeding trial to see the effect of these products on nutritional and serum biochemical profile of school aged children. Biological evaluation of selected formulations showed the highest PER (0.86±0.17), NPU (2.81±0.25), true digestibility (64.51±0.84%), biological value (69.64±1.08%) and net protein utilization (61.32±0.96%) in rats fed with diet containing (20g/100g) sesame supplemented doughnuts. After biological evaluation, selected treatments of doughnuts alongwith control were served to school children to observe their effect on nutritional biomarkers and anthropometric measurements through the analysis of blood and urine. Maximum weight gain (1Kg) was detected in the children served with 20g/100g of sesame supplemented doughnuts. It is inferred from the current intervention, that the addition of sesame flour in snacks may improve the nutritional quality of these products and ultimately the consumers. Moreover, the consumption of doughnuts containing 10 to 20g/100 sesame flour may deliver 140% additional protein, as well as % daily values of Zn and Fe. Such products are ideal candidates for school nutrition programs especially in developing countries to reduce the severity of malnutrition.
The Holy Qur’ān is said to be a book neither in poetry nor in prose; yet it has a unique rhyme with a metrical system peculiar to it. The science of prosody and metrics, which is linked directly to poetry with its two characteristics of meter and rhyme, is based on the inductive study of the formal qualities of the Arabic poetry. The Holy Qur’ān, though not a book of poetry, is far away from the stylistics of prosaic speech in the sense since the terminal-end points of the ayaths (verses) of its each and every surah are rhythmic and follow a metrical system of its own, which phenomenon is significant from the view- point of the science of prosody and metrics. Given this, each and every Surah of Qur’ān has a distinct quality whereby it can be recognized and differentiated from every other surah. Both Islam and the Qur’ān have abstained from going to the extent of putting an end to poetic genius; rather they have encouraged it differentiating good poetry meant for the cause of spreading Islamic message from the bad one that stands against the message of Islam. As regards the Qur’ān, its each and every Surah is dominated by multi-dimensional musical rhythms in synchrony with the total climate of its verses, which makes the listener spell-bound, and which plays an essential function so characteristic of the science of eloquent rhetoric.
Foreign investment law is an emergent new law field, in which legal framework over global investments are discussed. The country of origin from where the investment is coming or originated is called as the ‘home’ country, whereas the recipient country of that investment is called as the ‘host’ country. Foreign investment law comprises the very principles of customary international law and international investment treaties involving the economic relations of two countries. One important subject in this field of law is the multinational agreements between the countries, like the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). This study primarily relates to examine the investment laws and its procedure of three South Asian countries, i.e., Pakistan, China, and Malaysia - as to how foreign investment has contributed towards the development of these respective countries. In the first Chapter, brief introduction encompassing different definitions, concepts, and principles underlying this field of law are examined. Under the study, the international investment regime is explored, i.e. characteristics, types of international investment laws, and international institutions dealing with the investment laws. Core issues like the interpretation of bilateral investment treaties and internationally recognized protection clauses are also reviewed. The study critically examines the vires of Pakistan investment laws and procedure keeping in view of the above cited principles of international investment laws and as to how by promulgating more investment friendly laws, the investment landscape can be changed. Later on, bilateral investment treaty regimes of Pakistan and its economic relations arising therefrom are focused in great detail. The study reveals that Pakistan has a weaker international investment regime due to which its economy is under pressure from undeliberated BITs that were signed by the different government officials without looking into the contents of these agreements. The study further reveals that Pakistan should develop its own Bilateral Investment Treaties Model instead of following the infested Bilateral Investment Treaties, that need an immediate revocation. Analyzing the international investment vi regime of China and Malaysia, the study suggests that there is a linkage between the overall investment environment, i.e. prosperity, law & order situation, natural resources, as well as investment in these countries, which helped them to achieve the investment gradually and steadily. Both China and Malaysia are taking full advantage of BITs executed with other countries. The study also highlights that for attracting the foreign investment, Pakistan should also review its national laws on investment and more focus on friendly bilateral investment treaties regime that ought to protect both Pakistani interest and interests of investors. The respective study is mainly analytical, thematic, and evaluative in nature, and includes an interpretation of available empirical, historical, and interpretive literature on the subject of investment law. This study involves qualitative and quantitative and exploratory methods of research.