PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS

ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)
DAWN Editorials: 11 October 2023, Wednesday
Gaza besieged
A BLOODBATH is underway in Palestine. In the aftermath of Saturday`s shock blitz by Hamas,
which rattled Israel and punctured the myth of its military invincibility, Tel Aviv is on the
rampage. It is responding in the only way it knows: by slaughtering Palestinian civilians. Tel Aviv
has announced a `complete siege` of Gaza, cutting off food, water and power to the Strip. To be
clear, Gaza has been under siege since 2007, blocked off by both Israel and Egypt, in effect
turning the coastal territory into an open-air concentration camp. Only this time, what little
succour reached the territory has also been cut off. Israel is treating Gaza as the despots of
antiquity treated all people who dared oppose them: by setting alight entire cities and putting
their inhabitants to the sword. The civilian toll on both sides is indeed tragic, and heavy
casualties have been reported. The Palestinian fighters should ensure that no civilians are
harmed in their operations. Of course, no such mores can be expected from the Israeli side, as Tel
Aviv`s defence minister has said they are fighting `human animals`. If this is the mentality
guiding those who run Israel, another Palestinian massacre will be the grim outcome. What is
particularly reprehensible is the selective outrage shown by most Western states. While many a
Western leader has shed tears over Israel`s losses during the current hostilities, these same
states have been miserly while expressing grief as Palestinians buried their children murdered by
Israel over the decades.

The immediate need is for the world community to prevent Israel from blockading Gaza, which
the UN says is banned under international law, with others noting that Tel Aviv`s tactics come
within the ambit of war crimes. Muslim states particularly need to coordinate with each other
and the UN to ensure Palestinians have access to medical care, food and shelter, and are kept safe
from Israel`s marauding forces. But for there to be long-lasting peace in the Middle East, the
Palestine question needs a just resolution. For three quarters of a century, the sons and
daughters of Palestine have either been in exile, wandering in foreign lands in search of shelter,
or have been brutalised as prisoners living in their own land. The endless Nakba must end. No
half-baked normalisation deal that stabs Palestinians in the back and trades away their right to
nationhood can ever succeed; the ceaseless violence and humiliation being heaped upon them
will only increase their thirst for revenge from the occupier. The exclusionary and racist Zionist
experiment, backed by empire and supported by the successors of empire, has failed. To end
bloodshed in the holy land, and ensure the rights of all its communities, a roadmap for
Palestinian statehood is the only answer.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Blitz Noun ‫خسہلمح‬

‫ت‬ Bombardment, barrage

02 Invincibility Noun ‫ااکحتسم‬،‫ریغولغمیب‬ Invulnerability, strength

03 Rampage Noun ‫اگنہہمآرایئ‬ Riot, rage, storm

04 Siege Noun ‫احمرصہ‬ Blockade, obstruction

05 Succor Noun ‫دمدت‬ Help, relief, support

06 Reprehensible Adjective ‫م‬

‫اقِلبزم ت‬ Wrong, disgraceful

07 Tactics Noun ‫رحےب‬ Strategies, campaigns

08 Ambit Noun ‫دارئہ‬ Domain, field, realm

09 Marauding Adjective ‫ولٹامررکےنوا تل‬ Prowling, raiding

10 Brutalized Verb ‫یک‬

‫ولسک ت‬.‫اظاملہن‬ Hardened, coarsened

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)

DAWN Editorials: 11 October 2023, Wednesday

Polluted air
FOR a very long time now, Lahore has been on top of the list of the world`s most polluted cities
for many days of the year. In winters, the situation worsens as a thick smog engulfs its residents.
It is, therefore, not surprising if the quality of air has started deteriorating as temperatures fall.
The problem has worsened for some residents who are living in localities where `development`
work resulting from the rulers` obsession with signal-free corridors for the affluent has led to
heavy dust pollution. No wonder half the city is coughing and breathing hard, while the other
half is struggling to protect itself against pollution. In a global survey, a Swiss maker of air
purifiers found Lahore to have become the city with the worst air in the world in 2022. The
manufacturer`s AQI measures the extent of airborne particulate matter, which can pose serious
risks to one`s health.

The problem of air pollution has been steadily growing in Lahore and many other cities of
Punjab. Prolonged and heavy exposure to hazardous air is causing health complications,
including asthma, lung damage, throat infections, stroke, heart problems, and shortened life
expectancy. Sadly, the decisionmakers have been slow to react to the problem. Most officials and
politicians continue to deflect the blame by holding stubble burning by Indian farmers mainly
responsible for the smog in Lahore. But poor air quality and smog are the result of numerous
factors, which include vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, fossil fuel-fired power plants,
the burning of waste material, and smoke from tyre burning emitted by thousands of brick kilns.

They are all part of the problem. The provincial development model puts more emphasis on
building signal-free roads for car owners than on measures that can promote the collective
wellbeing of citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic background, and the enforcement of the
law against polluters. When smog sets in, governments simply focus on band-aid solutions such
as ordering school closures on particularly pollution-heavy days to reduce traffic emissions.
Lahore`s air quality and smog problem are deeply interconnected with poor urban planning and
other urban issues, ranging from poor solid waste management and unplanned urban sprawl to
vehicular emissions and the near absence of mass public transportation. In the absence of
concerted efforts to deal with air pollution, Lahore will continue to choke on toxic air.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Engulf Verb ‫نلگن‬

‫ ت‬،‫ریھگانیل‬ Overcome, submerge
02 Deteriorating Verb ‫رخابوہان‬ Worsening, failing

03 Worsened Verb ‫ایگ‬

‫دبرتوہ ت‬،‫ڑگبایگ‬ Degenerated, degraded
04 Affluent Adjective ‫اریم‬
‫ت‬ Wealthy, prosperous
05 Particulate Adjective ‫دقیق‬،‫ذرات‬ Harsh, rough
06 Prolonged Adjective ‫وطلی‬ Protracted, extended
07 Hazardous Adjective ‫طجرانک‬ Dangerous, perilous
08 Stubble Noun ‫ی‬
‫لصفیکاٹکیئےکدعبرےنہوالڑج ت‬ Stalk, straw

09 Sprawl Verb ‫انلیھپ‬ Stretch, extension

10 Concerted Adjective ‫ےطدشہ‬،‫ہقفتم‬ Intensive, rigorous

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609
 PUNJAB JUDICIAL OFFICERS
ACADEMY
(A Project of Al-Bahria CSS Institute)

DAWN Editorials: 11 October 2023, Wednesday

Labour market inequality
THE 2023 Nobel prize in economics has been awarded to American Claudia Goldin for her
outstanding achievements in the study of gender differences in the labour market over
the centuries. Her work provides the first comprehensive account of women`s earnings
and labour market participation. She collected 200 years` worth of data from the US to
understand how and why the gender pay and employment gap exists. Historically,
women`s work participation can be viewed as a U-shaped curve, with their contribution
taking a dip when the US transitioned from an agrarian to an industrial society, but then
rising again during a boom in the services sector. Women`s education levels also
increased and the advent of contraceptives impacted women`s career choices. The
earnings gap, however, didn`t close, despite modernisation. Ms Goldin`s work highlights
that over time, men and women were found to be earning disproportionate wages in the
same field of work and that the imbalance largely arose with the birth of the first child.

Pakistan, like many other nations, grapples with pronounced gender inequalities, not
just in wages but also in workforce participation. Ms Goldin`s work resonates
profoundly, urging us to understand the roots of these discrepancies to chart a more
inclusive path forward. The need for flexible working environments, tailored to
accommodate the unique challenges faced by women, is more pressing than ever. In
bestowing this honour on Ms Goldin, the Nobel committee not only celebrates her
academic excellence but also underscores the importance of gender economics in today`s
world. Ms Goldin`s research serves as a clarion call: to understand, to act, and to reshape
the economic landscape in favour of gender parity. In a world striving for equality, Ms
Goldin`s beacon shines brighter than ever. As we join in celebrating her achievements, it
is imperative we also take a moment to introspect, ponder upon her findings, and
commit to bridging the divide.

Sr.# Word Part of Speech Meaning in Urdu Synonyms

01 Transitioned Verb ‫دبتیلیوہیئ‬،‫یلقتنم‬ Changed, transformed

02 Agrarian Adjective ‫زریع‬ Agricultural, farming

03 Advent Noun ‫آدم‬

‫ت‬ Arrival, beginning

04 Contraceptives Noun ‫امعنلمحادوایت‬ Preventives

05 Disproportionate Adjective ‫س‬

‫ریغانتم ت‬ Uneven, unequal

06 Grapples Verb ‫اسانمرکراہ‬،‫ٹمنراہ‬ Struggles, combats

07 Discrepancies Noun ‫ت‬

‫اضتدتا ت‬ Differences

08 Underscores Verb ‫ہ‬

‫امنایںرکیت ت‬ Highlights, emphasizes

09 Clarion call Noun ‫اصفاوردنلبآوازت‬،‫اکللر‬ Warning, stimulation

10 Imperative Adjective ‫امہ‬،‫رضوری‬ Imperious, crucial

Arranged by: Prof Naveed Sabri

21 Babar Block, New Garden Town, Near Barkat Market Lahore
0333-4438610 0300-4469650 0300-1905555 042-35911609