Author: Dr. Natasha Sumbal

Every year, World Hepatitis Day reminds us of a silent but preventable public health crisis. Despite remarkable advances in medicine, viral hepatitis continues to claim approximately 1.3 million lives annually, making it one of the world’s leading infectious disease killers. Millions of people remain unaware that they are living with hepatitis B or C, allowing the disease to progress unnoticed while increasing the risk of transmission. The tragedy is not a lack of scientific knowledge but a failure to ensure that knowledge reaches everyone. Effective vaccines exist to prevent hepatitis B, while hepatitis C can now be cured in most…

There are moments in history when a single word changes the course of public discourse. In India, what was intended by many as a derogatory label has instead become a rallying cry. The term “cockroach,” used in reference to unemployed youth, has been reclaimed by a generation unwilling to be defined by insult. Rather than retreating in silence, students and young job seekers have transformed humiliation into resistance, giving rise to what is now popularly known as the Cockroach Movement. At its heart, this movement is not about a name. It is about the frustrations of millions of young Indians…

Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. While floods and heatwaves often dominate headlines, another rapidly growing threat is the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)—a sudden and devastating release of water from glacial lakes formed by melting glaciers. As global temperatures continue to rise, GLOFs are becoming more frequent, posing serious risks to lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure in Pakistan’s northern regions. Pakistan is home to more than 7,000 glaciers, one of the largest concentrations outside the polar regions. These glaciers are a vital source of freshwater, sustaining agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water for…

June 14 is observed worldwide as World Blood Donor Day, a global campaign dedicated to recognizing the selfless contributions of voluntary blood donors and encouraging more people to donate blood regularly. Blood is an essential resource in modern healthcare. It is needed every day to treat patients injured in accidents, mothers experiencing complications during childbirth, individuals undergoing major surgeries, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and those living with blood disorders. Despite its vital importance, blood cannot be manufactured in a laboratory. The only source is the generosity of healthy individuals who choose to donate. Medical experts emphasize that a single blood…

Some football matches are remembered because of the final score. Others are remembered because they remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place. The recent clash between Syria and Argentina was one of those matches. No one doubts Argentina’s greatness. They are world champions, filled with exceptional talent and a proud footballing history. But this time, many fans were left talking about Syria. They may not have walked away with the result, but they walked away with something just as meaningful, the respect of millions. The Syrian players fought for every ball as if…

“I’ll be fine. It’s probably just the cold.” That was my first thought on a chilly February morning while I was serving as Additional Assistant Commissioner (AAC), Mardan. I was in the field, carrying out official inspections, when I noticed an unusual heaviness on the left side of my face. The weather was cold, and I brushed it aside without much thought. But by the time I returned home, something felt undeniably different. One glance in the mirror was enough. As a gold medalist in Otorhinolaryngology, years of medical education had trained me to recognize subtle abnormalities. My respected teacher,…

The ban on the first season of India’s Got Latent was never merely about a comedy show. It became a mirror reflecting the disturbing transformation of digital culture, where vulgarity is mistaken for wit, obscenity for originality, and controversy for success. The FIRs registered against several individuals associated with the show did not emerge in isolation; they were the culmination of growing public concern over the unchecked descent of online entertainment into a race to the bottom. Social media has fundamentally altered the economics of attention. In today’s digital marketplace, outrage travels faster than reason, scandal earns more than substance,…

As the summer sun scorches the plains of South Asia, another kind of heat grips millions of households. For students, parents, and teachers, this is examination season—a period when aspirations, anxiety, and relentless preparation converge. Across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, the weeks leading up to competitive entrance examinations for medicine, engineering, and other highly sought-after professions are often described as a pressure cooker. Every mark matters, every hour counts, and every decision can shape a student’s future. It is during this intense period that coaching academies assume extraordinary importance. For millions of students, these institutions are not merely supplementary…