Bright Minds

  India has started using more water from the Ravi River through the Shahpur Kandi Dam and the Ujh Barrage. Before this, some extra water flowed into Pakistan because India did not have enough infrastructure to store and use it. Now, that water will be used for irrigation in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the dry districts of Kathua and Samba. The project is expected to provide irrigation to more than 37,000 hectares of farmland and help India make full use of its share of Ravi River water. According to the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), the Ravi River belongs to India's share, and Pakistan has no allocated share from this river. The extra water that reached Pakistan was due to India's earlier lack of storage and diversion facilities. Pakistan has called the issue related to the Indus Waters Treaty a matter of national security, saying that its water lifeline cannot be compromised. What do you think about this development? By Syed Azam Ali Shah 

  The Scars That Never Heal :- Between 1999 and 2022 , Pakistan recorded 3,469 acid attacks, affecting 3,873 survivors. Sadly, 52% of the survivors were women. Although reported cases have declined over the years, acid violence continues to scar lives. Most reported cases came from Punjab (65%) , followed by Sindh (18%) , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (10%) , and Balochistan & others (7%) . The recent acid attack on Dr. Mahnoor Nasir in Quetta on 5 June 2026 is a painful reminder that this crime still exists despite strict laws. Pakistan has strong anti-acid attack laws, including the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2011 , which provides up to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 million . Yet, weak enforcement remains a major challenge. Acid attacks do not only leave scars on the body, they leave lifelong scars on lives. By Syed Azam Ali Shah 

I am writing this blog to share some serious facts and figures about violence against women in Pakistan. These numbers are difficult, but they are important to talk about. They show a reality that cannot be ignored. Rising Violence (2021–2024) Between 2021 and 2024 , more than 7,500 women were murdered, including 1,553 cases of honour crimes. These are not just numbers for me. They represent real lives, families, and stories that ended in pain. During the same period, 173,367 cases of violence against women were reported. The yearly increase is also worrying: - 2021: 30,757 cases - 2022: 35,477 cases - 2023: 46,036 cases - 2024: 61,997 cases This shows that violence is not decreasing. It is increasing every year. Types of Violence The reported cases (2021–2024) include: - 17,771 rape and gang rape cases - 9,799 domestic violence cases - 89,599 kidnappings - 632 workplace harassment cases - 121 custodial sexual assault cases These numbers show that women are facing different fo...