“Eat the frog as soon as you wake up in the morning, and if there are two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”

No, this isn’t my idea.

It’s Brian Tracy’s idea from his book Eat That Frog!, where the “frog” is a metaphor for the most important or most dreaded task you’ve set for yourself for that day.

The book is written in plain language and is easy to follow. More importantly, it presents a simple, already established idea: prioritize your most important task as the first thing you tackle each day. The concept is supported by numerous quotations from well-known thinkers. The overall tone is motivational and galvanizes the reader, albeit with a fair amount of repetition.

The author’s main concern seems to be keeping oneself on a natural high from the endorphins he says are released when a task is completed. The more difficult the task, the greater the sense of achievement and the better one feels afterward - quite a practical approach, no doubt.

What feels missing is an acknowledgment that life is rarely that orderly.

The whole book feels as though the theory of success has shrunk into a handful of ideas.

Sometimes, the biggest challenge isn’t simply reaching the workplace or getting to work; the challenges an ordinary person faces can be far more complicated and unpredictable. Sometimes, the real challenge simply involves getting out of bed after a sleepless night. Someone may be dealing with a toxic work environment; someone may be doing two jobs to make ends meet. Someone may have worked late, stayed awake because the electricity went out, fallen ill, or had a migraine flare-up. Someone’s results may have just come out, and they may not have been what they expected.

This is where other factors come into play: fatigue, mental exhaustion, stress, and depression. This is also where time-management theories can become difficult to apply.

Discipline has its limits, and sometimes life simply gets in the way. The book, however, underplays these aspects.

And when Tracy says you should arrive at work before everyone else, I can’t resist thinking: perhaps the author’s car radiator has never leaked.

So, the framework of the book feels incomplete to me, and the idea of eating the frog first thing in the morning has collapsed a little for me.

When someone’s menu is offering something entirely different for the day, the promised release of endorphins may not come; instead, the anxiety and frustration graph may rise.

Nothing seems particularly new or revolutionary, and much of it feels far removed from the realities of everyday life.

But as a productivity book, it is a good one in its genre. It pulls together a lot of productivity-improvement hacks.

It doesn’t come out on top of the productivity-book pile, but if you’re new to the field, I would recommend

Eat That Frog! 🐸

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There's a particular kind of escape that only the northern landscapes can offer, and when you live just a few hours away from the world's greatest mountain range, it becomes impossible to resist that pull.

So before the vacations ended, we made up a plan and left the sleeping city for Naran Valley at around 5 am, rain coming down torrentially, blurring the windshield and making the road disappear in near-zero visibility.

Anyway, the excitement was enough to outweigh it.

The journey to Naran Valley took nearly 12 hours, with only brief pauses for tea and to admire the waterfalls along the way.

Tip: Avoid driving after sunset. The roads are steep, with numerous blind turns, and landslides are also common in these areas and the help usually takes hours to reach.

Our stay was at a hotel overlooking the Kunhar River, where the never-ending loud noise of its rushing waters and the sharp peaks of the majestic Himalayan mountains were at a window-view distance, while adventurous lovers rafting in the river and hooting were also something I could watch from the balcony of my room.

Next day, the plan was to reach Babusar Top, one of Pakistan’s highest accessible tourist spots on the way to Gilgit-Baltistan, at approximately 13,700 ft elevation. It is absolutely a place one will never forget, and from which you might need at least half a week to recover from the cold!

On the way, the enchanting view of Lulusar Lake captured the attention of travellers with its green, glassy looks.

At that elevation, the first encounter, as soon as one stepped out of their vehicle, was an abrupt attack of intense cold that seemed to cut straight through us. To survive this, walk speedily and go straight to one of the tea/coffee bar and pakoras/samosas/fries/boiled eggs stalls and more.

The place was alive with numerous entertaining activities like zip lining , and some tourists even hanging upside down like bats, sky-touching swings, and hiking trails.

This route is a gateway to Gilgit-Baltistan, ultimately leading toward the Khunjerab Pass on the Pak - China border.

The next day was a tour to Lake Saif-ul-Malook, which is famous for its turquoise glacial water and some rich folklores.

where the only successful mode of transportation is 4x4 jeeps.

The lake is calm, and the cold here is surprisingly bearable. The food was delicious, with only one slight problem: the meat was a little tough, perhaps because of the low temperatures. But there was absolutely no compromise on the taste - it was extraordinary.

And there I also met “ Tara” 🥲

After three days, we moved down towards Galiyat- a scenic region with enormous pine forests.

The speciality of the place is that we move between the clouds, they accompany us everywhere.

Wandering for six days had finally come to an end when the weekend was over, and we set off on the road to return home while it was raining heavily. Carrying heavy hearts, and already planning our next trip in January - my birthday month .. when there would be snow ❄️

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As the plane soared over Delhi, Jinnah looked back at the city and said, “I suppose this is the last time I’ll be looking at Delhi.” As the plane went airborne, he exclaimed categorically, “That’s the end of that.”

Ahead lay the soil that millions of Muslims had dreamed of calling their own... a homeland.

A dream that Jinnah himself had once dismissed as “an impossible dream” became the one for which he became so resolute that, even Lord Mountbatten exclaimed,

“He had completely made up his mind. Nothing would move him.”

The charismatic Quaid was a man of the Constitution. His entire life as a barrister, a political leader, and a strong Constitutional advocate revolved around the belief that every matter should be solved according to law, Constitutional principles, and due process.

It was this philosophy that shaped his vision for Pakistan.

He envisioned a Constitutional State whose foremost responsibility would be to uphold the rule of law and maintain order.

There would be no special privileges or legal immunities for any individual or institution. Instead, the State would ensure the welfare, security, and prosperity of all its citizens equally, without any distinction.

That was the essence of his historic address to the Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947, delivered just four days after he arrived in Karachi.

“You are free; you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State... We are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.”

This was history … long gone now after 78 years; here we are …

One constant failure that has defined Pakistan’s post-colonial State has been its utter failure to establish and sustain a Constitution… a principle that was at the very core of Quaid-i-Azam’s political ideology and vision for the State.

Since the very birth of Pakistan, that vision has gradually been eclipsed.

یہ داغ داغ اُجالا، یہ شب گزیدہ سحر

وہ انتظار تھا جس کا، یہ وہ سحر تو نہیں

Although the first Constitution established in 1956 was a parliamentary one in nature, democracy never truly took root. Repeated military interventions and a continuous greed for power prevented democratic institutions from maturing, reducing power to only a few hands.

It is one of Pakistan’s greatest misfortunes that many of its most powerful institutions have too often prioritized their own interests over strengthening democratic governance. Those who wield power have frequently become the greatest beneficiaries of the system they were meant to safeguard. As democracy failed to take root, corruption, patronage, and the power struggle gradually began to consume the country like termites.

So, with Quaid-i-Azam’s passing, it seemed that his vision of a truly democratic Pakistan also became history.

And the system has entered a phase of stagnation.

There is little to no political freedom for dissenting and critical voices, while criticism is increasingly met with legal measures, censorship, intimidation, and other mechanisms designed to suppress the opposition. Press freedom is greatly undermined, and locals mainly rely on international mainstream media for independent reporting.

The youth for whom Jinnah had great affection and whose importance in national life he deeply recognized are today stripped of their voice, their rights, and the real opportunities they deserve. When asked why he had such special consideration for students, he once said at Aligarh:

“They are my best ambassadors; they will carry my message to every nook and corner of the country.”

The ongoing situation in AJK and the recent killing of Dr. Usama Jaleel while protesting are raising great concerns and leaving a big question mark over the system and its institutions.

Although the history of repression is extensive, it has reached a magnitude that cannot be fully comprehended in a single article.

From the nation’s birth, Pakistan’s ruling elites looked towards foreign powers for their survival rather than rooting and strengthening the country from within. But this could never have been possible without Jinnah’s democratic legacy and the sovereign path he envisioned for the nation.

Quaid called students the future-makers of a country. Their rights should be protected. They should be given the chance to grow and prosper, and every possible means should be made to reduce brain drain and improve literacy.

Political leaders, civilians, students, and artists anyone who is arrested or disappeared should be given the right to be presented before the courts. Strengthening democracy and, above all, strengthening the judiciary is the ultimate problem solver and may be the only way forward.

Only then can we hope to move closer to the country Jinnah dreamed of.

دِل نااُمید تو نہیں، ناکام ہی تو ہے

لمبی ہے غم کی شام، مگر شام ہی تو ہے

فیض احمد فیض

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A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf is a deeply reflective feminist essay that, page after page, questions and exposes systemic, structural, and cultural biases.

Women were denied access to education, economic independence, inheritance, political freedom, and bound to accept their stiller doom. Thus, women were thwarted by circumstances and couldn’t excel for centuries - a reality that, in many ways, persists to this day.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, women were largely in a phase of stagnation and struggling, and demanding equal rights and opportunities.

By the time the book was published in 1929, the women in Britain had just gained the right to vote in the preceding year.

Woolf was invited to deliver lectures at women’s colleges on Women and Fiction, and the literature and arguments in this book grew out of her findings during her research to prepare for them.

For this purpose, she went to the British Library, where she speculated that the bookshelves were filled with books written with great loquacity about women, and to her surprise, the authors were everyone - except women.

The topics covered every imaginable aspect of women, and to my surprise, some legendary figures had written frivolously and facetiously about women.

She finds out that the women authors’ presence on the shelves was almost nonexistent, and that almost nothing was known about ordinary women before the eighteenth century.

As you read the history, the absence makes sense since writing was considered immodest for women in earlier times, and publicity was often regarded as detestable. So, many anonymous writers might have been women who chose anonymity, while others may have written under male names until Aphra Behn was forced by unfortunate circumstances to start publishing openly.

This moment, the author argues, holds historically more significance than the Crusades or the Wars of the Roses.

In seeking her answers, she ultimately concludes that if a woman wants to write, she needs money of her own the most, and a private space, and these words of hers have significant weight in literature.

Though the text is historically and literarily rich, poetic, and filled with metaphors, it is very easy to grasp Virginia Woolf’s perspective. But some points didn’t sit well with me, mainly when she underestimates the writing of female writers like Charlotte Brontë by suggesting that her work could have been even better had it flourished under equal circumstances. Though I completely agree that talent needs fertile ground to take root and opportunities to flourish, despite living under patriarchy, Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë produced timeless literature that needs no further validation or evaluation.

The other point I disagree with the most is when she argues that a writer should possess an androgynous mind, free from any rigid gender identity, because it limits imaginative freedom. I do not find this entirely justified. Writing about injustice, oppressive norms, advocating empowerment, or opinion pieces inevitably reflects the artist’s inner voice. No matter how hard one tries to remain detached, complete neutrality is an illusion.

Lastly, Woolf belonged to a prestigious, well-educated family and had the support of her family to pursue her aspirations. Although her central argument about financial independence and a room of one’s own was undeniably radical for her time, and although she understood the inequalities women faced remarkably well, it does not necessarily answer all the questions that a struggling, independent woman might have.

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This book is known for its vivid portrayal of the leading events before, during, and after the partition of India. It had been banned in Pakistan for a certain period due to controversy over the authors’ portrayal of political events and prominent Muslim leaders. Critics argued that the book is biased toward Muslim leaders and that it underplayed the political struggle and motives of the Muslim community toward independence, as shown in the first image above and the second, which I shared below.

Here, the Western authors discuss three major political leaders of the Partition era and highlight their personal characteristics. Nehru is portrayed as a man of “impeccable taste, breeding and fastidious intelligence,” while Gandhi is described as the “frail prophet of non-violence.”

However, when the narrative shifts towards Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, a noticeable slant appears. Although his calmness, politeness, and determination are acknowledged, the authors also draw attention to personal details that have little relevance to his political career, vision, or leadership.

This contrast, in my opinion, reflects a prejudice in the way Muslim leadership is portrayed compared to the other figures.

In this book, the authors put their words together in a tantalizing way, capturing the cascading events that began with the British people’s modest arrival on the Indian subcontinent’s coast and gradually expanded far beyond.

This historic journey begins with five miserable shillings - a small increase in the price of pepper that set Britain on the path toward its greatest colonial adventure, with the arrival of the East India Company that gradually transformed from a trading enterprise into a political power, extending its influence and eventually giving birth to the British Raj - with the loss of sovereignty for hundreds of millions - transforming India into Kipling’s picturesque India and making it one of the most complex chapters for storytellers, historians, narrators, to revisit, write and portray those historical moments in their own ways.

I’ll discuss a few excerpts with screenshots and my analysis, which I found controversial and, at times, lacking the true spirit behind the events.

During World War I, Britain’s old image as a powerful ruling race was badly shaken. The glamour, confidence, and unquestioned superiority associated with the British Empire started to decline after the huge sacrifices of the war. This ultimately worsened after WW2, when Britain faced less manpower, financial exhaustion, and changing political circumstances. On the other hand, freedom movements in India gained strength and found more hope when Britain promised Dominion Status in exchange for Indian support during the war.

But they couldn’t finalize a deal. Mahatma Gandhi’s stance was that the British should leave India immediately. He believed their presence itself made India vulnerable, and started a campaign named the “Quit India Movement” demanding immediate withdrawal.

Since the power transfer process was ongoing, and the last Viceroy of British India was present among Indian leadership, the Muslim League chose not to confront the British and didn’t join the Quit India Movement. Jinnah emphasized constitutional negotiations, believing that cooperation with the British would help secure better future for Muslim, as they feared that if power went to Congress, Muslims could be easily outnumbered as a minority.

But the way the authors present it by framing Muslims and their party as beneficiaries of favorable circumstances overshadows the political complexities and the concerns of the Muslim community during that period.

Now let’s turn to Lord Mountbatten

Right now, I’m not going to judge whether that’s fair or true - maybe later, some other time, in another review. But as I’m writing a critique, the whole book so far sounds like it portrays Lord Mountbatten as one of the most transparent figures in history. I haven’t finished the full read yet.

It’s repeatedly mentioned in the book that ‘no one saw this coming’ and that ‘no one predicted a calamity of such magnitude while the horrors of Partition were shaking the whole of India; these statements are not justified.

When the conflict was massive, and hatred was at its peak because of religious antagonism, differences, communal policies, and the frustration surrounding Partition, simply claiming or admitting that ‘no one saw this coming” while holding all the powers as a plenipotentiary is not enough or justified. It seriously shows a lack of calculation regarding the aftermath and consequences, a lack of risk management, and a failure to perform the duty that was entrusted to him.

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A few weeks ago, I read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. At its heart, it is a story of friendship between Amir and Hassan - and for Hassan, loyalty remains above all. The story is intense, emotional, and engaging, changing with every chapter and pulling the reader further into the story.

Ever since then, I had wanted to read his second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was different. It is a story of women who remain resilient and unbroken under extreme suppression - first because of family dynamics and later because of Afghanistan’s political turmoil, particularly under Taliban rule, when the humanitarian crisis was at its peak.

Both of his works revolve around the political evolution that Afghanistan underwent, from the fall of the monarchy to the American invasion after 9/11. By interlinking major political events with his characters’ personal stories, Hosseini shows how inescapable it is that so many Afghan lives have been marked by loss, death, unimaginable grief, and the burden of impossible choices.

Not giving any spoilers - just touching on a few moments that felt disturbing - when the civil war ended with Taliban rule, it marked an era of ferocious repression and the erosion of human decency. Their interpretations stood in stark contrast to the original Islamic schools of thought, stripped of nuance and compassion, and were especially devastating for women and minorities.

One thing is crystal clear: this mindset has nothing to do with the core teachings of Islam. The very first revealed word of the Qur’an was Iqra -” Read” a command to seek knowledge, without distinction of gender.

Closing schools and universities, burning books, destroying libraries, silencing poets, and even cutting fingers for something as simple as wearing nail polish stand in stark contrast to the authentic Islamic schools of thought. My grandmother once told me that in Herat, there was hardly a street where you would not bump into a poet.

I am thankful that the Muslim world is filled with educated, enlightened, and empowering scholars, and that our deen is not defined by those who promote ignorance, repression, and extremism instead of knowledge, compassion, and justice.

In another scene, during this period, when artists were forbidden to create, one artist was forced to make his flamingos “decent” by covering their legs. As absurd as it sounds, he painted over them with watercolors, hoping that when Taliban rule ended, he could simply wash the paint away and restore his paintings.

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Then there were the Buddhas of Bamiyan, destroyed by the Taliban regime in March 2001 despite international appeals to preserve them.

The statues had stood for nearly 1,500 years, and their destruction remains one of the gravest acts of cultural loss in modern history.

And lastly, in the novel, there was a person who, despite being innocent, was hanged to death even for acts of self-defense. From an Islamic perspective, this is deeply problematic, as self-defense is recognized and permitted within Islamic jurisprudence.

Well, the title seems serious, but the interpretation is entirely harmless.

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One thing I realized throughout the book was that Afghanistan, before the wars, before the destruction of its infrastructure, Taliban rule, and all the cruelty it had to go through, looked so much like my own country. The way the author writes about its streets, hotels, and landscapes before they turned into rubble almost feels as though someone is writing about my homeland.

Recommended both 101 %

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May 3, 2026

A 25-year-old woman leaves her home in fear at 1 a.m. Barefoot, terrified, and alone, she crosses a river and reaches a police station seeking protection.

Trembling, injured, and exhausted, she tells the police that her family will kill her if she is forced to return home.

The police register her case, assure her of protection, and present her before the court the next day. The court orders that she be sent to Dar-ul-Aman for her safety.

Then the video of the courtroom surfaces.

Outside the courtroom, her father places his pagri on the ground and emotionally pleads with her to come home.

Unable to watch her father cry, she withdraws her case and returns with him.

But before leaving, standing in court in front of the media, she says words that would become her final warning:

“I know I will be killed.”

And that is exactly what happens.

Twelve days later, her body is found. Her husband and maternal uncle confess to the murder.

One more life reduced to a headline.
One more woman erased.

The accusation: Karo Kari, a violent tribal practice used to justify murder in the name of “honor.”

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July 27, 2025

Bano Satakzai stands on the cracked ground of her village, surrounded by men she had known her entire life - brothers, uncles, neighbors - fully aware of why they are there.

Before killing her, they grant her a final wish.

But she does not beg. She does not cry.

Instead, she asks her brother to walk seven steps with her before shooting.

The entire execution is recorded and circulated online.

Only after the video goes viral is a case finally registered. No relative comes forward to seek justice for her death. Even her mother publicly states that what happened to her daughter was “fair” because, in their view, it was part of their tradition.

Her “crime”? Defying her family’s expectations.

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It is the murder of a person perceived to have brought “shame” upon the family through personal choices, relationships, or marriage. The perpetrators are often close relatives, while communities and sometimes institutions respond with silence, justification, or indifference.

These practices have nothing to do with religion. They are rooted in tribal and cultural traditions and are completely contrary to the teachings of our last prophet Muhammad (saww), who taught that the killing of one innocent person is akin to killing all of humanity and repeatedly emphasized the sanctity of human life, justice, and accountability.

No individual, family, or community has the right to take another person’s life in the name of “honor.”

The most disturbing part is that this mindset is not confined to remote villages or illiteracy. Some of its strongest defenders are highly educated men, fluent in law, politics, and diplomacy, who still insist that “honor” is a legitimate moral system rooted in tradition.

Consider Akbar Bugti, often regarded as a symbol of Pakistan’s educated elite. He attended Aitchison College and later studied at the University of Oxford.

Yet in a 2006 interview with The Guardian journalist Declan Walsh, he described how a couple eloped: the man was shot, and the woman was hanged with her own shawl by her family.

“The job was done. Honor was restored.”

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History keeps resurfacing in the same form: a murder, a viral video, temporary outrage, and then silence.

Yet no state, institution, province, or authority truly dares to confront the mentality that enables these crimes. Instead, these systems are often tolerated because they help maintain political control over the region, allowing powerful tribal and feudal figures to dominate places rather than strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.

That crossing of the river barefoot at 1 a.m., and those seven final steps, carried more courage and honor than any of the men involved in these murders, directly or indirectly.

Arrests, headlines, and temporary outrage are only partial responses. They do not solve the problem.

Until the sick mentality behind these crimes is confronted, history will continue to repeat itself.

Or perhaps the real question is:

What if the roles were reversed?

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The prospect of a global conflict may remain uncertain, but what is already unfolding within our country, Pakistan, is deeply concerning and increasingly difficult to ignore. Its effects are no longer abstract- they are seeping into everyday life, with consequences that risk becoming long-term and irreversible.

This is opening a new kind of front - one that isn’t making headlines yet but is quietly reshaping the nation’s future in profoundly damaging ways.

Petrol prices in Pakistan are up by over 70% from pre-war levels, among the steepest increases globally. This was not gradual at all, but a sudden hike.

For families already living on the margins, this isn’t just inflation but exclusion.

Most alarming is the impact on the most vulnerable segment of society -children, as there is a sharp decline in children’s attendance, specifically in government schools, where parents were somehow able to facilitate their kids’ education, and are now pushed beyond their limits.

In a country where nearly 4 to 5 out of 10 people live below a decent standard of living, transport is no longer a routine expense - it’s becoming a barrier, a constraint that’s making it difficult for families to sustain their aspirations, instead forcing them to watch their children’s future slipping away.

This is where a fuel crisis is transforming into a literacy crisis, when a large number of children are out-of-school already.

The classrooms are empty, and playgrounds are silent, because when survival competes with opportunity, survival is non-negotiable.

This is not just an economic strain

but

a crisis of affordability.

A crisis of compromised dreams.

A crisis of continuity.

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Writer to writer - why do we write?
Is it only for ourselves, or for someone out there who might need those words? Perhaps both.

If you write, you are also a reader. You know the power words carry and how deeply they can reach into someone’s mind and affect them.

Sometimes a few words can brighten someone’s day, lift a spirit, comfort a soul, or persuade someone towards a better decision.

But words can also deepen despair and push someone further into darkness.

This is exactly why the writing is both sacred and, sometimes, vulnerable.

Readers often trust what they read.

Authenticity and transparency, therefore, become a writer’s responsibility.

When someone reads your work, honesty is their first and foremost right.

In an era overflowing with information, the best a writer can do is write what is genuinely true - be a source of knowledge, a voice for unspoken words, and sometimes a sword for those whose voices are suppressed.

Human to human, the least we owe each other are words not written to divide, provoke, or fuel bias. Do not amplify hype or noise - let it end with you.

Do not present hatred, false accusations, or personal grudges as if they are proven facts. Not every reader goes back to check the facts. Assumptions grow from what they read, spreading quickly from mind to mind.

Opinion pieces should not advocate personal agendas, provoke people, or promote propaganda.

This does not mean criticism has no place. Fact-based, constructive criticism is essential. The one who holds a pen can shape the destiny of a nation.

As Margaret Atwood wrote:

“A word after a word after a word is power.”

History itself reflects this truth.

Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, often called the Poet of the East, used his poetry to uplift the morale of a community that had lost its vision, confidence, and sense of direction.

In one of his verses, he reminds his readers that darkness is never permanent and it shall pass:

The rising of stars is proof that dawn is near.
From the horizon, the sun will rise - the dark age will pass.

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So, write.

Write poems.

Write literature.

Write history.

Write to heal.

Write to solve.

Write to raise oppressed voices.

Write to highlight underlying problems.

Write your travel journeys.

Write about nature.

Write about your adventures.

Write about your struggles.

Write to reflect.

Write to educate.

But never write to serve propaganda, misinformation, promote sectarian or partisan bias, or mislead the reader.

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Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell – a tale of a dystopian, speculative state built on the belief in absolute power.

Oceania is a totalitarian state where citizens are conditioned into obedience through relentless propaganda and constant surveillance.

Big Brother, the symbolic figurehead of the Party, never appears directly, yet his fictional presence permeates every corner of the society, symbolizing the Party’s absolute control.

Winston Smith, the main character of the novel, works in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth. His job is to rewrite history and manipulate facts so that the Party always appears correct. But the contradiction is, he is a critical thinker who understands the Party’s hidden agendas, thinks about it, seeks the truth, believes in freedom of thought and individuality, and secretly looks forward to finding people who might think like him and share rebellious thoughts.

There, he encounters O’Brien – an official of the Inner Party who appears to be a secret member of the Brotherhood but is later found out to be a spy for the Party, secretly hunting for those who commit Thoughtcrime.

The novel moves from his thoughts to words, and from words to actions - where he keeps a forbidden diary, falls into a secret relationship, dreams of resistance, hopes for a promising future, but ultimately ends up being caught, tortured, humiliated, brainwashed, manipulated, abandoning himself, and finally believing that 2+2 can make any number depending on what benefits the Party to keep the power intact, and finally learning to love the Party and Big Brother.

The Relevance of 1984 in Today’s World

You may not truly feel or be convinced by the words if you did not live any part of it.

And Orwell’s book is extremely relevant to whatever is happening in today’s world. Over the last few years, the continuous game of wars has been unfolding, which clearly depicts his stance:

“When war becomes continuous, it ceases to be war. When it is continuous, there is no need for military necessity; technical progress can cease, and the most palpable facts can be denied or disregarded.”

Russia–Ukraine war, then genocide, the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president, and now the war between the US / Israel and Iran, with the killing of Ali Khamenei, all show that those in power want to stay in control and they do not appear as civil enemies even; and seemed to bother less whether they are killing / bombing cities, hospitals, doctors, civilians, little girls, or schools, or whatever.

While reading, I see Winston not as a person but as a school of thought - a group of people who think rationally, believe in freedom of expression, transparency of the system, and that no one is superior to the laws.

Orwell’s fear of a totalitarian regime, political violence, and how the lust for power can snatch away people’s basic rights of existence - their individuality, their choices, and their interests took me back to our previous elections held in February 2024.

Our favored political party had clean-swept and won at all the polling stations. We went to sleep feeling relaxed, but woke up to find everything had changed. The results had been altered; candidates who were ahead with great leads had lost. Social media was full of videos showing how the mandate was stolen and the results were changed. People were condemning it and going live, showing how the government had panicked and tampered with the results.

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This was followed by youth taking to the streets, fueled by outrage, and an angry public protesting for their leader. He is actually more than a leader; we look to him as our future. He is a hope against the corrupt and barbaric system. People shed blood and tears for his campaign. During that politically hopeless era, voters came out to cast their votes. I went for the first time in my life to vote. We believed in him, in his party; we loved him, and we hoped for a country not ruled by generals, bureaucrats, and elites - something that was not acceptable to the people behind the stage.

When anger intensified, it turned into massive protests, and protesters invaded their sacred territories. It marked the start of a black era - the initiation of a massive crackdown on their own people. Their fragile ego was torn down, everything backfired, and the Ministry of Peace took charge.

And just like Orwell says:

“The more powerful the Party becomes, the less tolerant it is; the weaker the opposition, the tighter the despotism.”

The same is happening exactly in today’s political and digital world - media is controlled, narratives are controlled, any voice raised is silenced, algorithms are biased, and anyone who’s a threat to the regime is being vaporized. We have organizations that are meant to preserve law & order and protect people’s basic rights, but they work within their own limitations.

And unlike the end of the novel, where Winston’s spirit was crushed against his own beliefs, an invincible thought remains - that a future without darkness is possible, where there is no sense of helplessness, and freedom of expression in saying that 2 + 2 makes only 4 and nothing else, and where the truth that

War is not peace

Freedom is not slavery

Ignorance is not strength.

still exists.

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Nearly 2 billion Muslims fast each year during Ramadan, close to a quarter of humanity. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

When a person fasts from pre-dawn until dusk, restraining the desire for food and drink for His sake, this act becomes very dear to Him, and He says:

“The fasting person has two joys: one when breaking the fast and one when meeting his Lord.”

It is the only act of worship for which no specific reward has been quantified, because He سبحانه وتعالى says:

“Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I will reward it.”

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It is obligatory upon every adult Muslim, except those who are exempt for valid reasons such as illness, a medical or physical condition, or travel.

They may make up the missed fasts later, or if they are permanently unable to fast, they can provide compensation.

Metabolic Reset

As our eating patterns have evolved, fasting provides a break and helps restore metabolic balance. Our physiology was never shaped in an environment of constant eating, where ingestion becomes compulsive and habitual, with three large meals a day, mindless snacking, excessive caffeine intake, and overconsumption.

Over time, this persistent fueling creates a glucose surplus that may strain metabolism, reduce insulin sensitivity, and contribute to several chronic illnesses.

Fasting creates a pause. It lowers blood glucose, reduces insulin levels, and shifts the body toward fat metabolism.

Ramadan fasting is usually not prolonged enough to strongly activate autophagy, but extended fasting can increase it. When nutrients are depleted, the body shifts toward cellular repair and recycling processes, which may offer metabolic benefits.

Fasting restores rhythm.

It may also help reduce LDL cholesterol levels, improve digestive health, reduce blood pressure, and support weight reduction if the iftar is mindful.

In people with diabetes, it may improve glycemic control and increase insulin sensitivity. (medical supervision is non-negotiable.)

Psychological Reset

But the cellular rest is only half the story.

A full stomach insulates the mind.

Hunger sharpens it. The brain begins to notice more precisely.

The fast becomes a form of self-auditing.

It makes you more empathetic and alert to your surroundings. It slows you down and humbles you.

You begin to care more, notice more, and think more about the people around you who are going through hardships and suffering, something that is difficult to fully understand on a full stomach.

To truly feel for someone, you have to stand in their shoes. It strengthens social bonds.

We are repeatedly instructed that we will be questioned about our neighbors, forty houses to the east, forty to the west, forty to the north, and forty to the south.

The companions of the Prophet (saww) said that he (saww) emphasized the rights of neighbors so strongly that they began to think neighbors might even receive a share in their inheritance.

Social Impact of Ramadan

The days usually slow down, but evenings are alive. Mosques become crowded. Hotels and restaurants come to life. Friends and families get together more often.

There are iftar arrangements everywhere.

If you are stuck outside or unable to reach home before iftar, you will often find people standing at traffic signals or appearing unexpectedly, offering something to help you break your fast.

Economic Impact of Ramadan

Ramadan foregrounds redistribution through Zakat and Fitrana.

Many Muslims choose to pay their zakat during this month, which is an annual obligation of 2.5 percent on qualifying savings and assets that have been held for one lunar year and meet the threshold. It is a mandatory act, not an optional charity.

Likewise, Fitrana is due on every individual, including children, before the Eid prayer.

In Pakistan, the minimum estimated amount this year is approximately Rs 300 per person.

Even a modest minimum rate per head translates into billions of rupees nationally. However, due to the lack of structure, funds are often distributed in a fragmented way, limiting their long-term impact and their ability to reach those most deserving.

Systematic transparency and proper implementation could extend its impact beyond short-term alleviation.

Ramadan Reflections

Fasting lasts for 29 or 30 days. It is a month of forgiveness, returning once again to bring us closer to God than ever. We made it this far one more time, perhaps more tired, broken, confused, and lost than before.

Hand it all over to the One who can carry it.

May this time and our prayers heal us, calm our overthinking, remove our doubts, and ease our affairs.

🌙Happy Ramadan🌙

Pakistan on Sunday, February 15, 2026, lost their blockbuster clash with arch-rivals India by 61 runs, bowled out for 114 in Colombo.

No controversy.

No umpiring decisions to question.

No scoreboard pressure.

Nothing…

The first heartbreak of the year. 💔

I’m not a big fan of cricket, but I never miss an India–Pakistan match. Even though in the end I always decide I won’t watch again, next time, my desperately hopeful heart brings me back.

***

Of all the ways,

I remain confined.

Hope is the cruelest.

***

The Indian players seemed to be playing irresistibly  - comfortable and almost flawless.

Meanwhile, everything was off for the Pakistan team except that we won the toss and took a questionable decision.

The fielding was poor.
The top-order evaporated in no time.
The bowling had no spark.

Playing with six spinners - a record-setting move - and still managing to lose is a big deal. No structure. No visible strategy. Not even close to playing to its potential.

The defeat of the Pakistani Cricket team continued its woeful record against India in World Cups, with India winning eight of nine T20 World Cup meetings and all eight of their ODI World Cup encounters.

Sports presenter and television host Zainab Abbas tweets: The match was entirely one-sided and really indicative from the start.

Ramiz Raja’s tweet was asking serious questions.

Okay, leaving the facets of the game aside…

Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweets, and according to cricket analyst Dr. Afnan Qaiser and the remarks of senior commentator Harsha Bhogle, that pressure is what the Pakistan team tends to face from the start and is unable to cope with on the field. Then why not focus on pressure training instead of just net training?

The India–Pakistan series is more than just a sporting event. Its fans are emotionally invested in the game and see it as more than a game. If the game collapses, the clouds of disappointment remain for days.

Lose if you must. But lose after at least putting in some effort.

With this win, India advanced to the Super Eight. However, Pakistan will have to beat Namibia, and honestly, no one is thinking about that anymore.

***
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Basant, the historic kite-flying festival, is all set to make a grand comeback after nearly two decades with full enthusiasm and zeal - well, this time with a strict set of SOPs.

It’s an ancient, legendary spring festival. Historically associated with Basant Panchami, it gained cultural depth over the centuries and gradually evolved into a secular celebration. The festival was traditionally observed at Sufi shrines. The poet Amir Khusrau celebrated it by wearing yellow in Sufi tradition, which was later adopted by Muslim communities of the sub-continent. The festival flourished during the Mughal era and gained significant patronage under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century, especially in Lahore. Over time, it spread across the Punjab region, with Lahore specifically widely regarded as its vibrant hub.

Reasons behind the ban:

Back in 2007, the festival was overshadowed by a surge in deaths and severe injuries caused by the use of sharp and deadly string material.

Safety measures:

Now, the precautions are in place. Kites must be purchased from registered retailers. Only cotton strings are allowed. Any violations will result in legal actions. Pillion guards are being installed on bikes, and motorcycles without safety equipment may face restrictions in certain zones. Kids under 18 are barred from flying kites, and guardians are legally responsible for their safety. Giving the festival any political color is strictly unacceptable (sadly). Aerial firing and unsafe rooftops are also prohibited under the code of conduct.

Basant festivities:

With all that, the city is lighting up again. Soon, the sky is going to be covered with all colors and sizes of kites - well, with some size restrictions.

Rooftops will be fully decorated and soon be alive with colors and cheers. Hotels are at capacity. DJs are getting booked, and Basant-themed songs are blasting over loud sound systems to set the real vibe. Food stalls will set the mood, while I’ll be hunting for the perfect tea stall.

The fun part? Basant is back after such a long time that a whole generation has grown up without knowing - or having much skill in - how to fly kites. Gen Z is taking it very seriously, and this is not something you can learn from YouTube tutorials or by asking chatbots. The only solution is to use their PR and social contacts to track down Millennials and Gen X, who need to bring back their frozen memories to life.

After all, Basant is all about kite-flying competitions - if you want to win and have real fun, you need someone on your team who actually knows how to fly.

Some friends who have solar panels on their rooftops are also in space trouble, as rooftop rents are skyrocketing. Recently, we were informed while querying that a person gave his spacious 4-canal rooftop in central Lahore for 10 million for the festival - massive food arrangements and beyond, and rest assured, safety was taken care of.

The cultural festivals are a way for people to trade their chaotic, busy routines for refreshment, replenishment, and rejuvenation. And as long as it’s treated as a healthy sport and the rules are followed, it’s a great activity and a real economic boost.

With PMD forecasting clear and dry weather, here you go, Lahore. Bring the festive season alive once again! 🪁✨

Even after such a long ban, the thrills and skills of kite flying feel like muscle memory. The excitement, preparations, and surge in sales all show that everyone is looking forward to being part of the celebration.

***

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Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
The online world at work - where internet has turned this bird into 2026’s biggest viral meme.

Scientists are explaining, influencers are romanticizing, poets are vibing, writers are articulating, v-logs are multiplying. Everyone seems deeply concerned with how a penguin has motivated and traumatized the whole internet and is genuinely believing that he did something many of us have not even thought about. Layers of meaning and interpretations are being added un-interruptedly. Think pieces are forming. The penguin is no longer just a bird; it has become an idea, a metaphor, a statement and actually a celebrity.

Well, I genuinely love penguins.
But the concern goes deeper down in this picture - where a dog needs a little attention too.

A picture of a dog shared on media, a few days back, who was sitting all alone in the surf, facing the merciless waves head-on, away from the shore - withdrawn, quiet and emotionally exhausted.

Sadly, the picture didn’t get any chance of virality.
No compassion.
No media bites.
No metaphors.
No attention.

The dog was left feeling lost and isolated, both in the image and in the way it was received.

This is obviously not about dogs versus penguins and is not about diminishing one’s emotions to elevate another. Rather, it is about realizing a pattern - a clear humanity/media bias, or more accurately, I would say, an aesthetic-based sympathy.

The penguin’s wandered-ness was taken as a serious metaphor and a matter of concern. His movement was romanticized. His isolation was philosophized and instantly idealized. In contrast, the dog, despite looking more upset, displaying clear signs of an existential crisis, was left alone, long-lost in deep thoughts, without realization of what he might be experiencing or could have done.

Some might even think that the dog would have gained attention if he had gone deeper into the waves, only if his suffering had crossed a certain visual threshold.

This is cruel and selective empathy is totally unacceptable where penguin is taking all the limelight.

Despite dogs share a deep emotional bond with humans, his condition was ignored and over-looked. This is quiet unsettling.

So, yes, Team Dog needs answers and justice.

Disclaimer: This piece reflects my personal perspective and explores neglected side of the dog’s story. It is not meant to undermine concern for penguins or any other species, but rather to highlight our side of the story.

…

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Everyone nowadays facilitates the idea of health and wellness, and this industry has become highly popular and trendy, setting increasingly high standards for aesthetics. This is not a bad thing  actually, becoming so invested in these trends is understandable. However, the real discussion is whether this obsession was always part of society and has only recently come to the surface.

Research, has shown wellness culture emerged in the 19th century as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, when rapid urbanization and mechanized life encouraged people to adopt natural ways of restoring balance and harmony, such as vegetarianism, hydrotherapy, cold-water bathing, and time spent in nature, to combat the destructive effects of technology-driven urban living on health. This was exactly the period when health and well-being were seen as commodities for the first time, and health entered the marketplace and began to be seen as a societal standard.

The rest of the history  -  from the life reform era to a trillion-dollar industry  -  is well explained through the infographics shown below.

According to McKinsey’s research, wellness has become an increasingly personalized ritual, and it has influenced younger generations  - Gen Zers and Millennials  -  the most. The survey was conducted on more than 9,000 consumers across different countries and found that today’s youth are investing in appearances and overall health, while at the same time the wellness industry is shifting away from long-term benefits toward instant and marketable fixes.

One of the key reasons these generations are leaning more heavily toward health and wellness is intense competition in a fast-paced economy, where speed matters and there is little room for physical or mental deficiencies. Opportunities are fewer and competition is greater, and any misplayed ball can carry an unaffordable cost. At the same time, social-media-driven appearance dynamics have significantly reshaped expectations and turned health and wellness into visible lifestyle symbols.

This reflects a continuous form of technological dominance through social media, where influencers are printing money by monetizing these narratives that set unrealistic goals and amplifying pressure on younger generations to constantly perform and function tirelessly. This ultimately leads Gen Z and Millennials to invest disproportionately in wellness and health to meet evolving, dysfunctional expectations.

According to the global wellness institute report, how wellness industry has evolved significantly over past 10–20 years and has grown into an economy larger than most of the popular industries like IT, tourism and pharmaceuticals. This highlights how its becoming major economic force rather than mere a lifestyle trend.

The value of the wellness economy was estimated at $6.8 trillion in 2024, and it has grown faster than global GDP and is projected to reach nearly $9.8 trillion by 2029.

The Role of Influencers Marketing in Shaping Wellness Consumption:

On the other side, influencer marketing is playing a significant role and is heavily backed by the wellness industry. Brands approach and collaborate with popular influencers and celebrities to reach their authentic audiences, and studies have shown that this has a direct impact on buyers intentions and behavior. So, in this industry, these partnerships are seen as highly effective because consumers listen to their favorite celebrities, and it is also evident that despite being advised by medical professionals that such supplements or healthcare products are unnecessary, people still choose to follow influencers.

Final Thoughts:

Algorithms are designed in a way to continually show us the same campaigns, reels and before-after transformations again and again ,  that at certain point we start to admit sub-consciously that these things are today’s necessities and valuable.

These campaigns are largely backed and amplified by capitalist interests, which influence and trick psychology, over time by frequent repetitions, manipulation, and social conditioning and in the name of self-care, we push ourselves harder and harder, only to feel increasingly dissatisfied. The more we chase wellness this way, the more distant real well-being begins to feel.

In the end, we need to stop and reconsider our choices  and really  ask whether what we are constantly told by media is truly essential for our well-being, or whether it is a trap, a carefully shaped delusion that we have slowly learned to accept as our own.

…

This tweet is not directly related to health and well-being, but it is about one of our senior ministers’ before-after transformation - trending and capturing a lot of media and public attention. I feel it somehow connects, at some level, to how media and public figures set unrealistic standards and if not that, at least it makes sense where the money and attention are going. (Ok, leaving the politics aside.)

Thanks for reading ))

This term is used allegorically here, as it perfectly describes the built-up pressure on the youth caused by academia, familial and societal expectations, financial struggles, and the difficult path to finding jobs and scholarships. An unsafe and uncertain future, elected governments being taken down, mafia systems ruling, a deteriorating health system, and bureaucratic dominance, all of this keeps piling up constant pressure.

The system functions like a pressure cooker, where pressure keeps building and squeezing, but there is no valve to release it, until the damage becomes irreversible.

A university student committed suicide under mysterious circumstances on December 20, 2025. Another student jumped off the second floor on January 5, 2026 - spinal cord broken, legs broken, lungs collapsed, and severe head injuries,  after talking on the phone with her family for about 30–45 minutes.

A talented, capable, and well-settled individual who was also attempting to go abroad for further studies, SP Adeel Akbar allegedly shot himself on October 23, 2025, after seizing the gun from his subordinates, reportedly following a phone call.

Waqas Raza, commits suicide on June 21, 2025, while present at his real estate office and sends message to his family to collect his body from the office.

These tragic incidents are among those cases which comes on the surface, while the underreporting is significant.

Unfortunately, the disturbing fact is that these numbers clearly depict an institutional dystopian collapse of the system, ethically and structurally.

میں کس کے ہاتھ پہ اپنا لہو تلاش کروں
سارے شہر نے پہنے ہوئے ہیں دستانے

-Mustafa Zaidi - another suicide victim, a CSP officer, and a well-known poet.

On whose hands should I look for my blood?
The entire city is wearing gloves.

The youth of the country occupies nearly 70 percent of the population; this demographic is often described as a dividend, yet behind this optimistic narrative lies a crisis that hardly enters the national conscience. An analysis estimates that Pakistan’s suicide rate rose from 7.3 per 100,000 in 2019 to 8.9 in 2020, and then to 9.8 per 100,000 in 2022.

Unfortunately, the causes are multidimensional, and while there is extensive debate on academic stress, familial pressure, inflation, and political uncertainty, the rising numbers show that the hidden mental health epidemic remains largely distant and unaddressed. Despite the seriousness of the matter, it is often seen as a personal failure and casually dismissed as weakness, drama, or a lack of faith.

This societal mindset leads to delayed treatment and ultimately results in chronic psychological stress. In reality, it functions like a pressure cooker, intensifying triggers for self-isolation, self-harm, addiction, and long-term physical illnesses, and may further contribute to an increased risk of biological conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

The Path Ahead

A cultural, institutional, and familial shift is needed. Depression related suicides can be prevented through interventions. On individual level we have responsibility towards our circles.

Institutions should assure students’ mental well-being, bring young representatives to the frontline from among them, and prioritize their circumstances before setting any policies.

Stigma around the mental and emotional breakdown should be addressed, and access to psychiatric care should be treated as a necessary public-health obligation, not a matter of tolerance.

On a state level, awareness programs should be conducted, and the number of clinics and professionals should be increased. Professionals should be given incentives and institutional support so they are encouraged to work in this sector. Decriminalizing attempted suicide under the Pakistan Penal Code in 2022 was a step forward toward a positive shift. Though many private foundations and NGOs have begun working on mental-health awareness, community support, and counseling services, these efforts are still limited compared to the magnitude of the problem.

Existing in such circumstances, youngsters are carrying immense emotional weight. Ignoring this fact, that requires immediate attention , is no longer optional and will have a direct impact on the country’s future stability, prosperity, and collective well-being.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰

Not long ago, in our region, northwestern South Asia, mornings began with the chirping of sparrows, flapping around windows, hopping on tree branches, and filling the air with life. In just a few years, their urban populations have declined sharply. Butterflies, once found abundant and mesmerizing, are becoming rare as well and are at an increased risk of extinction.

Air pollution, rapid urbanization, and the growing intensity of climate change lie at the center of this decline. AQI readings are fluctuating between Unhealthy and Very Unhealthy.

Scientists consider house sparrows and butterflies strong environmental bioindicators, as these species are highly sensitive to even small ecological shifts. When their numbers fall, it indicates and signals that the environment humans live in is under stress too.

Across regions, many populations of both sparrows and butterflies are declining, and some have vanished entirely. The extinction of the dusky seaside sparrow stands as a stark reminder of how pesticides and habitat destruction can entirely erase a species.

Climate change is a rapidly growing factor in biodiversity loss and is reshaping ecosystems across land and sea. It is no longer a distant threat. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are already pushing thousands of species toward extinction.

New research led by Reut Vardi at the University of Oxford, published in Global Change Biology, assessed nearly 30,000 land vertebrate species and warns that by 2100, up to 7,895 species could face extreme heat, unsuitable land-use change, or both across their entire range, which could lead to global extinction.

The Biggest Threat: Humans

Habitat loss remains the greatest danger to wildlife, alongside hunting and overfishing. Deforestation, ocean acidification, the fencing of grasslands, and altered migration routes are also threats. Despite the persistence of habitats, they are often altered beyond what species can adapt to.

Besides habitat loss and human pressure, global trade spreads diseases, invasive species, and pests across the world. Climate change and invasive species affect all life on Earth, but species adapted to cold, stable environments are the most vulnerable. A few manage to adapt, but most go extinct.

Many scientists refer to this era as the Anthropocene. Biologist Edward O. Wilson warned of what may follow: the Eremozoic- the Age of Loneliness.

Compounding Threats

The criteria by which animals are judged to be critically endangered are set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose Red List of Threatened Species provides the most comprehensive global database on endangered and extinct species.

Wildlife today faces cascading pressures. Fungal diseases like chytridiomycosis have already driven dozens of amphibian species to extinction. Habitat loss quietly erases insects such as butterflies, whose caterpillars depend on specific plants that vanish under development and industrial farming. Climate change intensifies every one of these threats.

Recent initiatives, including projects outlined in the Colossal Foundation’s 2025 Impact Report, signal a growing faith in technological responses to biodiversity loss, yet they also underscore how far conservation has shifted toward remediation rather than prevention.

The decisions shaping energy use, land conversion, and consumption are already determining whether much of Earth’s remaining biodiversity persists or disappears within this century.

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Some native species we grew up seeing are now harder to spot due to urbanisation, deforestation, and air pollution. What animals or birds once shaped your everyday landscape but have quietly disappeared where you live? Share below.

*** ✨ 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 ✨

IT is one of the most emerging fields in today’s world, and gender bias is deeply intersectional in this industry. This exposes a deeper concern that the industry is not neutral and nourishes gender stereotypes.

The predominance of female voices as voice assistance, designed in submissive, over-apologetic, and accommodating ways, reflects a society’s mindset on how it expects women to be better fitted for subservient roles. It displays a serious disparity in women’s representation and influence.

The early history of digital voices, and the ways people treat them or sometimes use derogatory terms, shows a deeply rooted misogynistic attitude of people who find it funny, insulting, and a subject to mockery if instructions and warnings were to be given in a female voice.

In the late 1990s, BMW reportedly withdrew a female-voiced GPS after complaints from German drivers who said they did not want to take directions from a woman.

These are not anomalies but are cultural indicators.

According to new research by Johns Hopkins, it has been found that male users interrupt voice assistants twice as often as female users. These conversational voice assistants are frequently feminized through their gendered names, passive behaviors, and friendly intonations. The main concern is that these systems are not designed in such a way to identify the user’s behavior and instead keep them in a tuned, obedient, soft, and helpful mode. This over-apologetic behavior of voice assistants reinforces the very loopholes and biases introduced by authoritative developers. This digital authority is closely intertwined with social and cultural norms.

As Charlotte Webb said,

“I certainly don’t see a technological solution to it. I think it’s a human problem.”

The problem is not only whether people accept female voices in certain roles, but also how developers have designed these synthetic voices to behave.

Verena Rieser points out in her research, that by assigning human-like qualities and gendered traits, developers encoded stereotypical behaviors into systems that were supposed to be “neutral”.

Recommendations to Address Gender Bias in Voice Assistant Development

A feminization of the AI industry is imperative to dismantle male dominance in this sector. Women need to transition from being primary users to becoming their creators.

Globally, only 26–28% of workers in this industry are women, and an even smaller percentage hold senior decision-making designations. This underrepresentation of women further signifies the potential risk of gender biases in the system.

‘Why not Alex?’ challenges the deeper stereotypic societal mindset that voice assistants are systematically feminized to fit social stereotypes that normalize submissive and subservient roles to women, while men are automatically granted authority, command, and credibility.

Put simply, with more women developers, strong ethical limitations, and greater transparency, the chances of creating a more equitable digital and social environment increase, and harmful stereotypes can be avoided rather than reinforced.

***

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Winter often carries a kind of stillness: days turn short and gray. Winter nights hold a mysterious sadness, as if something precious is lost, as if something will never return, as if something has quietly slipped away, the world turning a little more desolate and distant as every buried memory finds its way back.

رات یوں دل میں تیری کھوئی ہوئی یاد آئی

جیسے ویرانے میں چپکے سے بہار آ جائے

جیسے صحراؤں میں ہولے سے چلے بادِ نسیم

جیسے بیمار کو بے وجہ قرار آ جائے

-فیض احمد فیض

But wait, this is not just poetic. There is also a scientific angle to these winter melancholies.

You may feel blue during winter as the days are pale, cold, and dark, spending most of the time indoors. This means less exposure to sunlight, leading to lower production of serotonin. When serotonin levels drop, we feel lethargic, fatigued, anxious, and irritable. This mild dip in mood is often referred to as “winter blues” and is often temporary, common, and usually lifted with sunlight or social activity.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a different and well-defined clinical diagnosis when exposure to sunlight is minimal for a long period of time. The “absence of light” becomes the main trigger, responsible for disrupting the internal body clock. The body takes the surroundings (light and darkness) as cues and sends signals to the brain to release melatonin, a chemical responsible for the sleep-wake cycle. The stimulation of melatonin during the daytime makes people sluggish, tired, hungry, and withdrawn.

As these rhythms shift and the body responds to reduced daylight, something else becomes noticeable: the quiet pull toward slowing down.

Hibernation

Winter makes us slow; humans can’t hibernate, actually, but in the coldest months of the year, we are drawn to something similar. The biological urge to preserve energy naturally slows us down.

Without treatment, these symptoms generally last until the days start getting longer. Although light therapy is mainly considered the standard treatment for SAD, aerobic exercises, and supplements are also recommended for improved health.

Some self-care tips to lift the mood:

Winter is a time to enjoy the pleasures of solitude, to dream and contemplate.

1. Do activities that you normally enjoy

2. Stay socially connected

3. Eat nutritious food,

4. Go easy on yourself; winter naturally slows the body.

5. Get out in the sunlight, in the early times of the day

   

Winter has its own rhythm, a season to rest, retreat, and recalibrate. Don’t rush.

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Obesity is more than a number on the scale and is directly contributing to serious health problems. According to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) report, excess abdominal fat changes the way the body responds to insulin, raising blood glucose levels and can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage, and other health problems.

Nearly 90 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, crossing the threshold b/w weight and chronic disease.

So, getting into shape and staying physically fit is no longer just about aesthetics; it’s more about quality of life. Growing health awareness has made people more conscious of the risks of obesity, and many feel anxious about their health choices; that’s where the medical industry steps in.

In recent years, the emergence of weight-loss drugs (agonists), including Ozempic and Wegovy, has turned the medical world upside down and has allowed many people to lose weight that they were unable to shift before.

These medications known as Glucagon- peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists have been proven to suppress hunger and reduce appetite; by blocking the center of appetite, this actually mimics a process, in which our gut naturally produces GLP-1 hormone when we eat, raises the insulin level, reduces the liver’s sugar production, ultimately slows down the movement of food through the GI tract. Thus, we no longer feel hungry or have cravings, leading to a drop in blood sugar level and resulting in significant weight loss.

Worth it or not?

While for some people, a balanced diet and active lifestyle are enough to lose weight, for others, these agonists act as a hope, as these medications are shifting the mindset to understand obesity as a medical condition rather than a personal failure, specifically for individuals with higher starting points, with less motivation, and busy schedules, or stuck in metabolic ruts. For these people, a simple calorie-deficient diet and exercise alone won’t be enough.

Limitations

Personal experiences with some of my friends who are taking these drugs under medical supervision illustrate how responses to these medications vary for everyone.

Some with obesity class 3 (BMI>40) lost 20kgs within the first few months, while in a few cases, they could only manage to lose buckle fat. How the body will respond to these drugs depends on multiple factors, like genetics, insulin sensitivity, activity level, stress, and diet.

One shouldn’t forget the limitations as well; it’s designed for long-term use when prescribed for obesity, much like diabetes and hypertension. Once semaglutide is discontinued, weight regain is common, making continued maintenance essential.

In short, GLP-1 agonists are powerful but not a magic fix.

Although these agonists are considered safe, recent UK‑regulator warnings (MHRA) highlight serious risks such as dehydration from gastrointestinal side-effects, hypoglycaemia in non-diabetics, and misuse through falsified or privately sourced GLP-1 medicines, reinforcing that these drugs must be used under careful medical supervision.

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