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The groundwater resources have always been explored for its utilization in domestic and agriculture purposes. In this study, Winder area in Balochistan which is along the coast of Offshore Indus Basin has been explored using electrical resistivity method for deeper understanding of hydrogeological and hydrogeophysical conditions. Schlumberger electrode arrays have been used to acquire vertical electrical sounding data for 23 different sites in this area. The field data were calibrated with theoretical curves during processing using software with graphical interface. The true resistivities, depths, thicknesses, aquifer attributes, soil type and groundwater quality has been extracted from the processed data. Pseudo-sections and geo-electrical lithology sections have been generated for lateral distribution of hydrogeological settings. Furthermore, Dar-zarrouk parameters calculations have been made and 3D surfaces generated at 30m and 60 m depth for transverse resistance (T), longitudinal conductance (S) and anisotropy (λ) plotted for resistivity distribution and coastal salinity intrusion analysis. The soundings results depict five layers mainly composed of silty sand, sandy clay, sand, and sandy gravel and the depth ranges from 0-110m. The interpretation illustrates that freshwater unconfined aquifer are present in the quaternary sand and sandy gravel deposits. The water table is at shallow depth along the river and deeper in northeast and away from Winder river. The resistivity ranges 29-1091 Ωm in layer-3 interpreted as saturated zone. The approximate range of water table is 19-30 m. The higher value of T greater than 10000 shows fresh water and low value 8200 for salinity intrusion in southwest toward sea., Izvori podzemne vode uvijek su se istraživali radi njihove upotrebe u kućne i poljoprivredne svrhe. U ovoj je studiji područje Windera u Beludžistanu, uz obalu priobalnoga bazena Inda, istraženo korištenjem metode električnoga otpora radi dubljega razumijevanja hidrogeoloških i hidrogeofizičkih uvjeta. Nizovi elektroda Schlumberger korišteni su za prikupljanje podataka o vertikalnome električnom sondiranju za 23 različita mjesta u ovome području. Podatci na terenu kalibrirani su teoretskim krivuljama tijekom obrade s pomoću softvera s grafičkim sučeljem. Iz obrađenih podataka izdvojena je stvarna otpornost, dubine, debljine, svojstva vodonosnika, vrsta tla i kvaliteta podzemne vode. Za bočnu raspodjelu hidrogeoloških postavki stvoreni su pseudopresjeci i geoelektrični litološki odsjeci. Nadalje, izrađeni su proračuni Dar-zarroukovih parametara i generirane su 3D površine na dubini od 30 m i 60 m za poprečni otpor (T), uzdužnu vodljivost (S) i anizotropiju (λ). Ti su parametri ucrtani za raspodjelu otpora i analizu upada slane obale. Rezultati sondiranja prikazuju četiri sloja uglavnom sastavljena od muljevitoga pijeska, pjeskovite gline, pijeska i pješčanoga šljunka, a dubina se kreće od 0 do 110 m. Tumačenje ilustrira da su slatkovodni vodonosnici prisutni u kvartarnim pjeskovitim i pjeskovitim naslagama šljunka. Vodeni je sloj na maloj dubini uz rijeku, a dublje na sjeveroistoku i dalje od rijeke Winder. Otpornost se kreće od 29 do 1091 Ωm u sloju 3, što se tumači kao zasićena zona. Približni je domet vodostaja 19 – 30 m. Viša vrijednost T veća od 10000 pokazuje slatku vodu i nisku vrijednost 8200 za prodiranje slanosti na jugozapadu prema moru.

Karachi, megapolis has witnessed numerous massive homicide incidents waves through the ages. More than ten thousand persons were murdered during 2009-2017. Being a largest cosmopolitan and commercial city of Pakistan, Karachi has a variety of ethnic groups clustered into a highly variegated number of ethnic political groups who on the slightest pretext entangle clashes and head on collisions. Homicide, a primeval crime has been constantly increasing globally with varying spatio-temporal fluctuations depending on level of development of countries, which influences the socio-cultural and political environments of societies. There are various studies on crimes in Karachi but none of them have evaluated their ethnic jolts line with reference of geo-demography. The study is aimed to facilitate concerned authorities, policy makers and scholars towards designing crime elimination guidelines and policies for the most politically, economically and socially strategic hub of the country. Data limitations were experienced during the work although ground truthing with the help of GPS was conducted for location of homicide hotspots and IDW techniques were employed for accuracy of spatial analysis. The result has identified the heart of the city as the most sensitive homicide zone, though 2017 revealed substantial decrease due to the operation initiated in September 2014 by newly elected federal govt. The lucrativeness of Karachi, has favored it as a haven Routine Activity Theory with fluctuating volumes of homicides concentrate and trajectories through 2009 until 2017. The trajectories being guided by social, ethnicity, magnified by ignorance of the minimal existent socioeconomic policies through official guardian, manifested along the ethnic fault lines. Keywords: Ethnic fault lines, geography and crimes, homicides, Karachi, spatio-temporal analysis

The geographical concentration of criminal violence is closely associated with the social, demographic, and economic structural characteristics of neighborhoods. However, few studies have investigated homicide patterns and their relationships with neighborhoods in South Asian cities. In this study, the spatial and temporal patterns of homicide incidences in Karachi from 2009 to 2018 were analyzed using the local indicators of spatial association (LISA) method. Generalized linear modeling (GLM) and geographically weighted Poisson regression (GWPR) methods were implemented to examine the relationship between influential factors and the number of homicides during the 2009–2018 period. The results demonstrate that the homicide hotspot or clustered areas with high homicide counts expanded from 2009 to 2013 and decreased from 2013 to 2018. The number of homicides in the 2017–2018 period had a positive relationship with the percentage of the population speaking Balochi. The unplanned areas with low-density residential land use were associated with low homicide counts, and the areas patrolled by police forces had a significant negative relationship with the occurrence of homicide. The GWPR models effectively characterized the varying relationships between homicide and explanatory variables across the study area. The spatio-temporal analysis methods can be adapted to explore violent crime in other cities with a similar social context.

Studies have revealed that socioeconomic factors such as those pertaining to unmarried respondents, dependency, housing congestion and room sharing are associated with tuberculosis rates not only in developing countries but also in developed countries. Karachi has been identified as one of the most vulnerable cities where the spread of TB is increasing with the passage of time. The purpose of the present study is to assess TB notification with reference to some social factors in order that the findings of this study may provide helpful information for guidance related to social and economic policy formulation, at least at the local level to combat and eliminate tuberculosis. The methodology was based on NTP registered patients’ data and social factor analysis data which were acquired through questionnaire survey from notified patients. The result pertaining to TB notification reveals an increasing trend during the last seven years from 2007 until 2013. The notification of female patients compared to that of males is high, which is evidence of the fact that women in Pakistan are more affected but a comparison of patients to the total population in the respective years i.e. the patient population ratio, reveals a decreasing trend. The findings of the study emphasize that the problem of TB control can be resolved expeditiously with the cooperation of the public sector, which should be motivated to meet the core requirements of the programme at various administrative levels and strongly enforced standards of quality of life.

Thirty-nine (23 dug and 16 tube well) samples were geochemically evaluated and investigated to ascertain the quality of water in Khipro, Sindh. The analytical results exhibited abundance of major cations and anions in Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and Cl− > HCO3 − > SO4 2− sequence. Stiff diagram showed dug well sample have high Na–Cl and moderate Mg–SO4 content as compared to tube well samples. Majority of dug well samples appeared as Na–Cl type on Piper diagram while tube well samples are mixed type. Gibbs diagram reflected evaporation as a dominant phenomenon in dug well; however, tube well samples are declined toward rock dominance. Process of ion exchange was witnessed from Na+ versus Cl− and Ca2+ + Mg2+ versus HCO3 − + SO4 2− plots. Principal component analysis also discriminates dug well and tube well water by means of positive and negative loading based on physical and chemical composition of the groundwater. Studied and computed parameters like pH, EC, TDS, TH, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, HCO3 −, sodium adsorption ratio, magnesium adsorption ratio, potential salinity, residual sodium carbonate, Na%, Kelly’s ratio, and permeability index were compared with WHO to evaluate studied water for drinking and agricultural purposes. Except Na+ and K+, all chemical constrains are within the allowed limits, set by WHO for drinking water. Similarly, most of the groundwater is moderately suitable for irrigation uses, with few exceptions.

The main objective of this paper is to investigate tuberculosis patients’ demographic distribution including their sociocultural impacts among various ethnic groups in the study area. Data was collected through questionnaire survey (interviewing patients) at TB diagnostic centers in the study area over a period of eight months (March to October 2013). Analysis was made with the help of Microsoft excel and SPSS version 20 for demographic analysis.The questionnaire survey revealed the respondents in terms of languages as Urdu (33.28), Sindhi (20.63), Punjabi (14.98), Pashtu (11.48), Seraiki (10.48%) and other languages 14.81. Researchers have identified other languages (which included, Hindko, Balti, Persian, Brahvi, Marwari, Gilgiti, Gujrati) as being the most vulnerable/impoverished lingual groups in the study area. Demographically, Urdu speaking TB patients were recorded as 53% females, but the case of Sindhi speaking female patients was slightly high (50.81%) compared to males. Punjabi speaking patients were found to number almost similar to the Urdu speaking patients as the percentage of females was 52.22%. Pashtu speaking females amounted to 44.9 %, while males recorded highest percentage i.e. 55.07%.The occurrence of TB in the purview of lingual distribution of population in Karachi provides an insight into the transmission of the disease especially in the context of the global as well as local environment, cultural and politico-economic scenario.

The significance of social and economic inequality becomes more prominent due to the lack of regional planning, a phenomenon present in third world countries, where good governance is a rare administrative reality. Coupled with this is the lacuna of administrative coordination, which exacerbates the inequality scenario. The paper highlights the significant factors responsible for social and economic inequality in Sindh, a province of Pakistan. The lopsided nature of urban development, coupled with rural backwardness, acts as a double-edged knife leading to exaggeration of socio-economic inequalities caused mainly by population explosion natural in rural areas and migratory in urban areas. This leads to staggering economic conditions, with falling income levels, perpetrating vicious social and cultural impacts. Reduction of inequalities demands implementation of planned, targeted development strategies in line with the policies of regional planning. Key words: Factors, quality of life, urbanization, demographic stress, Sindh.

To investigate and analyse patients' educational status and awareness regarding tuberculosis in the context of demographic distribution.The survey-based study was conducted at Tuberculosis Diagnostic Centres in Karachi from March to October 2013. A predesigned questionnaire was used as the data collection tool. It was filled through face-to-face interviews. Data was anylsed using SPSS 20.Of the 1260 respondents, 646(51.2%) were women and 614(48.7%) were men. Women were more affected by extra pulmonary tuberculosis (65%; n=123) compared to men (35%; n=65), while the reverse was the case for pulmonary tuberculosis, with men accounting for 52% (n=557) and women 48% (n=514). Pulmonary tuberculosis was prevalent in all age groups of both genders, but was most notable in the 11-30 years age group. Educational status of tuberculosis patients indicated men as being more educated with 52% (n=91) and 55% (n=258) for above and below secondary school certificate level or education respectively. The level of awareness and pursuance of precautionary measures was higher among literate males (58%; n=108 and 54%; n=347) compared to females at 42% (n=77) and 46% (n=296) respectively.The findings may prove helpful in convincing the educated tuberculosis patients to reform their lifestyles in order to improve their living environments to prevent the spread of the infectious disease, thereby improving the quality of life in the city.

A number of serious studies have been conducted to decipher relationships between geological environment, potable/drinking water, and diseases as they were considered to have triggered suffering due to diseases among people. Chronic anemia can be caused by prolonged exposure to drinking water contaminated with cadmium (Cd). Under such circumstances, accumulation of Cd is manifested in the kidney, resulting in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to present the impact of Cd-contaminated drinking water on human health among the residents of villages in Winder. Collection of about 48 groundwater samples at an average distance of 1 to 2 km between the sampling sites has enabled a sufficient geological representation of distribution of minerals and elements in the samples. Concentration and comparison of Cd in the study area sample sites reveal highest values (24.2-30.0 ppb) in the northeastern and southeastern sectors, covering parts of all three geological areas of Bela Ophiolite of Cretaceous age. Conducted questionnaire surveys provided relevance between cause and effect nature of Cd bearing diseases among which kidney, joint, and night blindness are more prominent. Due to this phenomena, toxic risk of Cd in drinking water was high as per calculated health hazard indices. The use of this water by the villagers may cause health problems and disorders among the inhabitants of the area.

A study of ophiolitic rocks, soils, twigs and fruits of Tamarindus indica have been carried out to evaluate elemental relationship. Soil of the study area revealed concentration of trace elements acquired from the bedrock. Its average abundance (mg/kg) in the soil was Mn (30), Fe (28), Pb (5.12), Cr (4.7), Ni (3.12), Cu (2.66), Zn (1.02), Co (0.97) and Cd (0.49). Fruit pulp presented: Fe (16.0), Cr (5.57), Zn (3.75), Mn (2.99), Cu (2.05), Co (0.92) and Ni (0.24). Twigs of T. indica showed Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Co>Cd trend of concentration. Elemental composition of rock-soil-twig-fruit of T. indica demonstrated similarities in the distribution pattern, reflecting common association between them. Correlation matrix (CM) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that elemental distribution of T. indica is influenced by the composition of rocks and soils of the study area. Keywords : PCA; Rock-Soil-Twig-Fruit Relation; Element Distribution; Geochemistry; Balochistan.

Tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in Karachi, Pakistan, and even with the discovery of other infectious diseases no significant change is evident in its epidemiological profile while analyzing spatio-temporal incidence. There are significant evidences to support the fact that poverty is the main cause of TB. A number of scholarly analyses have documented associations among patients’ characteristics e.g. sex, age group, social, economic and ecological factors .The purpose of the present study is to investigate pattern of patients’ histories regarding recently and previously infected family members because people of the study area have revealed very serious concerns regarding their family members, especially their parent. In addition, the study has identified the more affected age groups and its relationship with income variations among the patients. Eleven selected variables have been employed in the present study for analysis on the basis of data having been compiled through structured and open–ended questionnaires conducted among TB patients at diagnostic centers. An insight into the variables reveals that lopsided, income distribution is of major significance in the purview of socioeconomic factors and is categorically responsible for the spread of tuberculosis in Karachi. The results of the present study can serve as a guideline for city authorities to improve living conditions and quality of life in the city as a whole especially in the down town areas.