As we ring in the new year, we must shed the baggage of the previous year and start afresh; 2023 witnessed a lot of economic turmoil but the new year begins with it promise for better days. No doubt this year will have its own set of challenges, but the essential thing here is to not lose hope or be disheartened but to press on and appreciate all the adversity as opportunity. We have to remember that we are standing and as long as that is true, the possibilities are endless. The course of the new year is ours to determine, and for that we have to overcome hurdles and forge new paths if the old ones no longer lead anywhere.
A few things that are important objectives and that we cannot forgo as a nation, we have to keep working on this year as well. One of the most important goals is the education of our women. Education of women is important not only for the individuals themselves but the nation as whole. While many would perceive education of women as an important element for economic progress, it has the power to transform our society. Owing to the fact that women play a central role in the family, they have the most power to shape and mold the society’s value system. Education helps in doing this by opening them up to new ideas that challenge the existing regressive norms and in dismantling them, paving the way for a more progressive and tolerant society. In this issue we have included content that details the merits of educating women and how it can transform our society without letting go of the essence of our culture and traditions.
Since the new year is a time for resolutions to start afresh and mending our ways, a very important issue that we face has been highlighted in this issue: water scarcity and ways to conserve water. Pakistan is a country with some of the largest glaciers and many rivers flowing through it, yet we face the problem of water scarcity. A major reason for this is the rapid population growth, which is exacerbated by irresponsible water use practices by the general public and inadequate conservation policies. If we persist in not acknowledging the immediacy of finding solutions to this problem, we might have to face very unpleasant consequences by 2040. Therefore, this year we have to make sure that we make sustainability and conscientiousness a priority when using our resources, particularly water. Responsible behavior has to start at the individual level in parallel to the bigger conservation measures at the institutional level.
And while we devise ways to tackle such important issues, we must not forget that charity begins at home; we have to begin with taking care of ourselves and those we hold near and dear so that we have the energy and the heart to work for the greater good. It would make a world of difference if we enter the new year with optimism, will power, sense of responsibility and our priorities set straight.

Nadia Zubair
Email: [email protected]