بیگم سلطانہ حیات
افسوس ہے کہ اردو کی ایک عاشق وفدائی اور اتر پردیش میں اردو تحریک کی قائد بیگم سلطانہ حیات صاحبہ ۷؍ جون کو رحلت فرماگئیں، وہ تقریباً نصف صدی تک اردو کے فروغ کے لیے سرگرم عمل رہیں، ۵۵ء میں انجمن ترقی اردو ہند نے اردو کو اتر پردیش میں علاقائی زبان تسلیم کرانے کے لیے دستخطی مہم چلائی جس کو کامیاب بنانے میں انھوں نے اور ان کے شوہر جناب حیات اﷲ انصاری نے غیر معمولی دلچسپی لی اور اتر پردیش کے مختلف علاقوں کا دورہ کیا، وہ اس وفد میں بھی شامل تھیں جو ۲۲ لاکھ دستخطوں کے ساتھ میمورنڈم لے کر اس وقت کے صدر جمہوریہ ڈاکٹر راجندر پرشاد کے پاس گیا تھا، انھوں نے ’’تعلیم گھر‘‘ کے نام سے ایک ادارہ بھی قائم کیا تھا، اس نے اترپردیش میں اردو کے کئی اسکول قائم کیے جن سے ہر سال سینکڑوں طلبہ فیضیاب ہوتے تھے، وہ طبعاً نیک، شریف اور درد مند خاتون تھیں، اﷲ تعالیٰ اردو کی اس مجاہدہ اور خادمہ کی مغفرت فرمائے، آمین۔ (ضیاء الدین اصلاحی، جولائی ۱۹۹۴ء)
Imbibing reading habits is an essential skill necessary in the acquisition of knowledge, which is highly demanding in the life of every student in the academic environment. However, as modern technological resources keep on advancing, the reading habits of students are also changing with reading on screen. This study examined the reading habits of college sophomore students as affected by technological resources. The survey instruments, distributed to 254 college sophomore students at the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, allowed the respondents to assess their reading habits in terms of reading hours, reading purposes, reading content, and reading attitude, with the technological resources as their tool. The data gathered in the study was analyzed statistically using the simple frequency count and percentage, mean, and Pearson correlation. The findings revealed that the college sophomores achieved an average level in their English subjects. In addition, it was found that the technology resources were moderately adequate to be used for reading among the college sophomores. Despite this, the results still showed that college sophomore students spent 2-3 hours a day reading, primarily in preparation for their exams. In addition, they read the available reading content moderately often, and they perceive a positive attitude towards the use of technological resources for reading. Furthermore, it was revealed that there is a significant relationship between reading habits and academic achievements. The study's findings will be used to improve instructional approaches and to launch e-reading initiatives in colleges.
Pakistan is a country blessed with a long coastline, a potentially resource rich EEZ and continental shelf. The country is strategically located at the cross-roads of Central Asia, South Asia, Middle East and China, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. However, despite all the ingredients of a maritime power, Pakistan’s maritime sector has remained neglected. The mercantile sector has declined since the 70s; ship building and ship breaking industries are in poor state. Fishing, that provides sustenance to a large coastal population, has failed to keep pace with modernization. There has been no progress in the offshore exploration, and the country lacks capability to explore and exploit seabed resources. Throughout its existence, Pakistan has depended entirely on a single port complex for economic and security purposes. Realizing the importance of additional/ alternative ports the country decided to build two ports on the thus far neglected Makran coast- a naval port at Ormara and a commercial port at Gwadar. Gwadar, a natural deep water port, is conceived as a regional hub port, providing transit access to Central Asia, Russia and China, and lending trans-shipment facilities to regional ports. However, due to its strategic location astride the energy jugular of the world, it has raised many an eyebrows. In Pakistan’s perspective Gwadar is extremely important from security as well as economic point of view. For a country like Pakistan with such a vast coast and geo-strategic location, it is imperative to have a vibrant and effective maritime strategy, to benefit from its maritime potential. Pakistan needs to revamp its maritime sector and Gwadar is just the right catalyst to provide the foundation, as well as the stimulus. With right planning and execution, the port should help strengthen all the elements of maritime power and contribute significantly in national security and prosperity.