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Karachi

University of Karachi Observes World Food Day 2025

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Karachi, University, Food, Nutrition, Health, Agriculture, Sustainability, Technology, Research, Innovation, Education, Awareness, Seminar, Climate, Environment, Students, Science, Safety, FoodDay, Pakistan

The Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Karachi organized a seminar on Thursday to commemorate World Food Day 2025.


The event was held to raise awareness about the global challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and the importance of sustainable food systems in ensuring a healthy future for all.

Faculty members, students, and guests from academia and the food industry attended the event. The speakers highlighted that World Food Day serves as an important reminder to adopt responsible consumption habits, reduce food waste, and promote sustainable agricultural and food processing practices.

Addressing the participants, the faculty emphasized that Pakistan, being an agriculture-based country, has immense potential to strengthen its food system through innovation, research, and modern technology. They also stressed the role of youth and researchers in developing new methods to improve food preservation, enhance nutritional value, and ensure food safety standards.

The seminar provided an opportunity for students to engage in discussions on global and national food issues. Participants shared their views on how climate change, population growth, and water scarcity are impacting food production and access.

World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The University of Karachi’s Department of Food Science & Technology continues to play a key role in promoting education, research, and awareness on issues related to food quality, safety, and sustainability.

The event concluded with a note of appreciation for the organizers and participants, reaffirming the department’s commitment to advancing food science education and contributing to a food-secure and sustainable Pakistan.

Running Dry: Sindh’s Deepening Water Crisis

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Dry riverbed in Sindh showing water scarcity and drought.

Sindh is experiencing one of Pakistan’s worst water crises. With declining river inflows and unsustainable groundwater extraction, water scarcity is deepening both in rural and urban regions.

Causes of Water Shortage

According to a study published on arXiv (2020), groundwater storage across the Indus Basin declined significantly between 2005–2015, beyond normal seasonal variation.
The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) report (2024) found that out of 1,247 water supply schemes surveyed in Sindh, only 42% were operational, and 75% of water samples were unsafe for drinking.

Impact on Agriculture

As Dawn (2023) reported, soil salinity and waterlogging have reduced productivity in Thatta and Badin, forcing many farmers to abandon agriculture and migrate to urban centers.

Urban Water Challenges

In Karachi, The Express Tribune (Feb 2024) highlighted how illegal water tanker mafias control distribution, charging up to 10 times the normal rate — deepening inequality between poor and wealthy areas.

Sustainable Solutions

  • Modernize canal irrigation systems to reduce leakage.
  • Encourage drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting.
  • Enforce groundwater extraction laws.
  • Recycle treated wastewater for industrial use.

Conclusion

Sindh’s water future depends on urgent reforms and cooperation between provinces. Without sustainable water governance, the crisis could soon become Pakistan’s largest human security challenge.

Karachi Is Sinking: Rising Seas and Vanishing Shores

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Flooded coastal homes in Karachi after sea intrusion.

Karachi’s 70 km coastline faces a growing threat from rising sea levels.
A MDPI study (2023) recorded Karachi’s relative sea level rising 1.9 millimeters per year since 1916.
The Institute for Strategic Studies Pakistan (ISSP) (June 16, 2025) confirmed further acceleration linked to global warming.

Coastal Erosion and Flooding

According to Dawn News (May 2020), over 3.1 million acres of agricultural land in Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal have already been submerged or rendered infertile by seawater intrusion.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF Pakistan) reports that Sindh has lost more than 50% of its mangroves over the past 50 years — removing the natural buffer that once protected Karachi from tidal surges.

Communities in Crisis

Fishing villages like Ibrahim Hyderi and Keti Bunder are being forced to relocate as saline water destroys homes and farmland. Sea intrusion has advanced 67 km inland, forcing mass migration (Dawn News, 2020).

Economic Risks

Karachi Port and nearby industries are at serious risk of flooding, threatening billions in infrastructure and trade. Coastal erosion also endangers DHA’s waterfront zones and Clifton areas.

Solutions

  • Replant mangroves along the Sindh coastline.
  • Ban sand mining and control development in high-risk zones.
  • Build sea walls and climate-resilient infrastructure.
  • Integrate coastal climate risk into city planning.

Conclusion

As ISSP warned (2025), Karachi’s rising sea levels are a long-term economic and humanitarian risk. Without urgent restoration of natural defenses and smarter coastal policy, Pakistan’s largest city could face irreversible damage.

Karachi’s Air Pollution: The City That Can’t Breathe

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Smog and traffic pollution covering Karachi’s skyline.

Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub — has become one of the most polluted cities globally.
According to The Nation (Mar 4, 2025), Karachi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 179, categorized as “unhealthy.” At times in 2023, the AQI exceeded 200, ranking the city 9th most polluted in the world.

Main Causes

  • Vehicular emissions: Over 4 million vehicles on Karachi’s roads run on low-quality fuel.
  • Industrial smoke: Factories release toxic gases without emission control systems.
  • Garbage burning: According to The News (Dec 2023), open burning contributes over 30% of airborne particulate matter.
  • Construction dust: Continuous urban expansion adds high levels of PM2.5 pollutants.

Health Impacts

The News International (Feb 2024) found that Karachi’s PM2.5 levels are 25.8 times higher than WHO’s safe limit, increasing cases of asthma, lung infections, and heart disease.

Policy Gaps

Despite these dangers, environmental laws are weakly enforced. As The Nation (Mar 2024) noted, Karachi ranks among the top 10 most polluted cities worldwide, yet lacks a comprehensive clean air policy.

Way Forward

  • Promote electric buses and hybrid vehicles.
  • Enforce industrial emission standards.
  • Expand urban green belts and forests.
  • Launch public awareness campaigns on clean air.

Conclusion

Karachi’s air pollution crisis endangers millions. Without strict regulation and long-term strategy, the city’s environment — and public health — will continue to deteriorate.

Sindh’s Pink EV Scooty Scheme Hits the Road with 200 Women Recipients

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A group of women proudly stand with their pink electric scooters at a distribution event in Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari handing over keys, surrounded by cheering supporters.

In a vibrant ceremony that blended eco-innovation with women’s empowerment, the Sindh government rolled out the first batch of free electric scooters under its flagship Pink EV Scooty Scheme, handing over keys to 200 lucky female beneficiaries. The event, held on September 25 at a bustling venue in Karachi, marked a milestone in the province’s push for gender-inclusive, sustainable transport, drawing cheers from recipients, officials, and supporters alike.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari led the distribution, personally handing over the sleek pink scooters to a diverse group of female students, teachers, and working professionals. “Today, we are taking another big step by distributing electric scooters free of cost to women, which will not only ease their daily commute but also provide greater access to employment opportunities,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari declared, emphasizing the scheme’s role in national progress. He highlighted the contrast with restrictive policies elsewhere, stating, “We want to send a strong message to Pakistan and the world—the Pakistan Peoples Party stands with the women of this country.”

The initiative, launched in April 2025 by the Sindh Transport and Mass Transit Department under Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, aims to distribute 1,000 such scooters across the province by year’s end. Each scooter comes equipped with safety features, including helmets, road safety training, and access to EV charging stations, in partnership with private entities like KFC Pakistan, which provided rider training and licensing support. “This pink scooter scheme is not just about transportation; it’s about women empowerment,” Memon noted earlier this month.

From Application to Asphalt: A Transparent Journey

The scheme’s selection process—online applications via the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) portal, followed by skill tests and a public lottery—ensured fairness, with media and a supervisory committee overseeing the draw. Recipients like Maria Mazhar Ghori, a schoolteacher from Karachi, shared her excitement: “I’ve received training from the Bint-i-Ahan women’s bike club, and now with this scooter, I can commute safely without relying on crowded buses. It’s a game-changer for women like me.”

Eligibility remains straightforward: Women aged 18+ residing in Sindh, holding a valid driving license, and either enrolled as students or employed. Applications are still open on the SMTA website (smta.sindh.gov.pk), with phased distributions continuing into October. No prior vehicle ownership is allowed, and scooters are for personal use only to prevent misuse.

Sindh Government Pink EV Scooty Scheme – SMTA Sindh Gov pk Registration

Broader Impact: Green Mobility Meets Gender Equity

This rollout aligns with national efforts like the federal Prime Minister’s Electric Bike Scheme 2025, which plans to distribute 116,000 e-bikes nationwide, but Sindh’s Pink EV focus zeroes in on women-specific barriers in urban hubs like Karachi and Hyderabad. By promoting electric vehicles, the program cuts fuel costs by up to 80% and reduces emissions, supporting Pakistan’s New Energy Vehicle Policy 2025–2030.

Looking ahead, Bhutto Zardari teased the launch of “Pink Taxis”—a women-operated ride service promising safe travel and job creation. As one recipient put it, “These wheels aren’t just for getting around; they’re for breaking barriers.”

For eligible women in Sindh, the message is clear: Apply now and ride the wave of change. The Pink EV Scooty Scheme isn’t just distributing vehicles—it’s accelerating a future where women lead the way, one eco-friendly mile at a time.