Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a type of depression caused by long, gloomy winter days. SAD begins and finishes at roughly the same period each year. If you’re like most SAD sufferers, your symptoms begin in the fall and last into the winter, draining your energy and making you cranky. These symptoms usually go away in the spring and summer.

SAD induces depression less frequently in the spring or early summer and resolves in the fall or winter. Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include oversleeping, appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates, weight gain, tiredness, or low energy.

Causes

Seasonal affective disorder’s exact cause is unclear. Some of the things that may come into play are as follows:

Your biological timer (circadian rhythm). Winter-onset SAD may be caused by the decreasing amount of sunlight in the fall and winter. This lack of sunshine may cause your body’s internal clock to malfunction, leading to depression.

Serotonin levels are high. SAD may be caused by a decrease in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that modulates mood. Reduced sunshine can induce a decrease in serotonin, which can lead to depression.

Melatonin levels are low. The change in season can upset the body’s melatonin balance, which influences sleep patterns and mood.

When to see a doctor?

It’s common to have low days from time to time. However, if you’re feeling depressed for days at a time and can’t get inspired to do things you generally love, consult your doctor. This is especially crucial if your sleeping and eating habits have changed, you use other medicines for comfort or relaxation, you feel hopeless, or you consider suicide.

Gold prices hit an all-time high in Pakistan, is this the time to invest?

Gold prices in Pakistani markets have reached an all-time high in the last 24 hours, as international rates regained some of last week’s strong momentum when the US Dollar fell in global markets.

Gold is being sold for Rs. 171125 per 10 grams, and the price of Gold reached Rs. 199600 per tola in Pakistan today.

Despite the price spike in local markets, gold fell from a 9-month high on Tuesday due to a modest decline in US bond yields, although the market was bolstered by prospects of slower interest rate hikes.

At 21:40 PM, spot gold was up 0.2 percent to $1,934.82 per ounce, having touched a high of $1,934.82 earlier in the day. In the United States, gold futures settled 0.4 percent higher at $1,935.4.

Consequently, the dollar index lost 0.2 percent versus its peers, making greenback-priced gold more affordable for many investors, while expectations of another interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve added to the commodity’s appeal.

Although gold is viewed as a hedge against economic indicators such as currency and inflation, increasing interest rates tend to reduce the appeal of zero-yielding bullion. In any event, the rare metal is still a worthwhile investment.

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have decreased to $4.3 billion, the lowest level since February 2014, according to the country’s central bank, following the repayment of some of Pakistan’s external debt.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) published the data on Thursday, adding that commercial banks have $5.8 billion, for a total of approximately $10.1 billion.

The IMF disbursed a $1.17 billion tranche in August of last year, but the next batch of funds has been stalled since Pakistan has yet to agree to the lender’s several criteria, such as raising energy costs and extending the tax base.

Last year, Pakistan was also hit by disastrous floods, which killed over 1,700 people, affected 33 million people, and cost the country more than $30 billion. Pakistan hosted an international donors’ summit with the United Nations earlier this week in Geneva when the world community promised more than $10 billion over the next three years.

Experts, on the other hand, have painted a bleak picture, arguing that the government should shift its focus from finding short-term fixes to more long-term reforms. According to Sakib Sherani, an economist based in Islamabad, Pakistan faces more than $20 billion in debt payback obligations over the next two years.

“In 2017, our yearly debt repayment was close to $7 billion. Over $20 billion is expected this year and next. We can’t help but borrow more, and while it may be a short- to a medium-term solution, it’s simply unsustainable,” Sherani explained in an interview.

He stated that Pakistan’s debt obligations should be restructured and that the government should develop a clearer plan for its economic strategy.

The Earth’s ozone layer is on its road to recovery, thanks to decades of work to eliminate ozone-damaging compounds, according to a group of worldwide experts supported by the United Nations.

The ozone layer performs a crucial role for all living organisms on Earth. This stratospheric shield protects humans and the environment from the sun’s dangerous UV radiation.

In May 1985, scientists detected a hole in the ozone layer, which frightened the international community. Scientists had previously discovered that compounds like chlorofluorocarbons, which are utilized in the production of aerosol sprays as well as solvents and refrigerants, might deplete ozone.

Two years following the discovery of the ozone layer’s deplorable status, international agencies adopted the Montreal Protocol. This mandated the elimination of nearly 100 synthetic compounds linked to the deterioration of the critical ozone layer.

The last assessment of the Montreal Protocol’s success indicated that approximately 99% of banned ozone-depleting chemicals have been phased out.

If current practices are maintained, the ozone layer is likely to rebound to 1980 levels by 2040, according to the United Nations. It may take longer in some areas. Experts predict that Antarctica will rebound to 1980 levels by 2066, while the Arctic will recover by 2045.

Over 30,000 young people came on Saturday to Pak Stadium in Karachi to take a police recruitment test for 1167 positions in Islamabad’s police force.

While stadiums are usually packed for sporting events, musical concerts, or political meetings, it was a different story on the last day of 2022, when youngsters gathered at the Pakistani national stadium to compete for jobs.

According to Al Jazeera, more than 31% of Pakistan’s youth are unemployed, with 51% being girls and 16% being males.

Sharing a video on Twitter, Al Jazeera said, “It’s not football that’s filled this stadium in Pakistan but the hope of finding a job. More than 30,000 people turned up to take a written test for Islamabad’s police force, where there are only 1,167 positions available.”

According to a viral video sourced by Al Jazeera, a video emerged on social media space showing thousands of aspirants seated in the stadium, looking to be writing exam papers and hoping for recruitment to the Islamabad Police.

PIDE also revealed that a shockingly large portion of the working-age population is not even in the labor force. It was stated that these persons are either discouraged workers or have other sources of income to support themselves.

It also stated that despite pronouncements and policy initiatives, the female labor force participation rate (LFPR) remains shockingly low.

Taking what we’ve learned from this remarkable year into account, we may set life-changing goals to live better lives as balanced and mindful Muslims.

Here are some New Year’s Resolutions for Muslims that we can implement in our life.

Elevate your prayers

When the five daily prayers become a part of our daily habits, they can become monotonous and robotic activities. For example, by altering the typical Suras (Chapters) we read or the Duas (Supplications) we recite after prayer, we may become more present and attentive to what we are saying during our prayers.

Start Quran Journalling

Islam is all about education and learning. Muslims should strive to comprehend God’s messages and connect with the Quran.

Practice Gratitude

Don’t leave your daily prayers without spending at least 2 to 5 minutes grounding yourself in Sujood (prostration) and reflecting on all the small things for which you are grateful, such as good health, family, and friends.

Give more charity

All Muslims are expected to provide charity (zakat). Find a charity that is near to your heart and establish a monetary goal for yourself.

Surround yourself with positivity

Take some time to consider the individuals in your life; are any of them bringing you down or filling your life with negativity? Surround yourself with people who care about your success, who make you laugh, and who care about you. Test it out and discover how it affects your life!

Get Healthy

We would all be healthy if we all followed Islamic eating etiquette. Simple modifications such as not eating on an empty stomach or introducing sunnah fasting twice a week (Mon & Thurs) can help.

It’s critical that you confirm the legitimacy of any work-from-home job prospects as you look for them. Scammers may pretend to be businesses or freelancers to present you with fake remote employment opportunities. Your identity, your finances, and your welfare can all be safeguarded by exercising caution. In this article, we have described some common scams you can come across.

What are work-from-home scams?

Work-from-home scams occur when dishonest persons fabricate job postings for their own gain. They might make advantage of these to steal your money or personal information. Scammers are starting to target this area with seemingly attractive job offers as work-from-home positions grow in popularity. To gain your trust, they can pretend to be a trustworthy organization or person.

To determine whether a remote job offer is authentic, follow these steps:

The job is too good to be true

 If a work-from-home offer appears too good to be true, trust your gut. Consider a scenario with some caution if a corporation is offering an incredibly high income or great benefits. In addition, if the business is promising you a fantastic job for which you are ineligible, this can be a scam.

There is little information on the company

A corporation should have a website and some sort of online presence on social media when being researched. It might be time to move on to a different job application if you are unable to find any information about it online.

The validity of the job offer cannot be verified by a second source

It’s a good idea if you can speak with another employee of the business. Instead of asking the employer for this information, attempt to locate it on your own. You could request more information about the business from this person. Remember that many scammers operate in groups, so this doesn’t necessarily imply that a job offer is genuine.

There are warnings online

To seek up the name of the business or employer, use a search engine. You might discover from search results that this fraud has been used on other people. It’s always a bad sign if you encounter job boards with cautionary statements about a company. Additionally, if there are negative online reviews of the business, this may indicate that you should hunt for employment elsewhere.

You have to pay to work

When employers assert that you must invest money in your work to get started, this is a prevalent deception. Employers are the ones who should pay you, not the other way around. While looking for remote jobs, keep in mind that certain respectable online job forums may require you to pay a monthly fee.

The employer is overly eager to hire

 When an employer feels compelled to engage you immediately, that is a huge red flag of work-from-home fraud. Most trustworthy employers are preoccupied with their own work and cannot answer you immediately away. Real employers put employees at ease, therefore if a business is forcing you to accept the position, don’t reply to them.

Brand value is the ‘perceived value,’ or how frequently consumers choose one brand over competitors. When consumers believe a brand is distinctive and in line with their personal beliefs, it creates a significant competitive advantage.

Here are 7 suggestions on what you can do to immediately add value to your brand:

Stay on top of your customer needs:

Develop strong ties with your A-level clients, keep an eye on their issues, and maintain “high touch” contact with them. The relationship may be strengthened, and your network can be expanded at the same time by frequent customer visits, evaluations, and networking events.

Be visible to your customers:

A smart method to let your customer know you are continually developing is to provide an updated version of your product or tag on a free service. Make your customer believe that having you around makes their lives easier.

Know your competition:

Be aware of your competitors and keep an eye out for what others are doing. Prepare to compare your value proposition to that of your rivals. You must be able to support your claims with evidence. You’ll become more competitive as a result, just as how all restaurants provide smaller quantity meals in their own unique ways.

Try new ideas:

If your market is heavily commoditized, you should consider where your profits come from. Many times, competing just on price or service is useless. Try out novel concepts, such as the “freemium” model, where you can initially offer portions of your products or services for free before charging for value-added services or premium accounts.

Improve experience:

Doing business with your organization should be a positive experience from beginning to end. Consider your customers’ needs and strive to make each process as seamless as feasible. They should be aware that they may get in touch with you with any issues and that you will do it in a timely and efficient manner. This also gives word-of-mouth advertising excellent leverage.

Include a human element:

Many businesses don’t put enough effort into humanizing their brand. Customers may feel disconnected as a result. They must sense that they are more than just clients. Logos, slogans, taglines, and websites are merely pointers; they are promotional tools. Allowing your customers to contact you in interesting ways in addition to through your newsletters, pamphlets, emails, and phone calls can aid in the expansion of your business. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination; host events, start a blog, or interact on social networking sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Reward loyalty:

Give your customers something extra in exchange for remaining with you or using your goods and services, much like a rewards program. It might be a pair of baseball tickets, a gift card, or a discount for future transactions.

In Pakistan, over 75% of the population, particularly young people, are said to be suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression, according to public health specialists and intellectuals.

According to Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan, vice chancellor of the Health Services Academy (HSA), most Pakistanis are either depressed, stressed out, or anxious, and they are not overly hopeful about the future of their nation.

He was speaking during the Jahan-i-Maseeha Adbi Forum’s 24th Thematic Calendar launch (JMAF). Considering these conditions, Allama Iqbal’s message of “Khudi” serves as the topic of the 2023 calendar.

According to Prof. Khan, the youth have become increasingly gloomy and dejected, and in these conditions, Iqbal’s message of self-worth can revive Pakistan’s national spirit.

Most young people in Pakistan, he continued, view everyone as corrupt and incompetent, despite the fact that similar problems, such as inflation, unemployment, and recession, affect young people everywhere.

Prof. Khan said, adding that things were not as bad as they were being made out to be, “Initially, teachers and academia of our society were targeted and they were defamed, later, character assassination of physicians and healthcare professionals was carried out, and the same treatment was met out to politicians.”

He praised Iqbal’s ideology and added that by instilling in them the values of optimism, passion, and encouragement, he was able to unite young people from a minority population on the Indian subcontinent.

The occasion was planned in association with the pharmaceutical company Pharmevo, which has been spreading Iqbal’s worldview among medical professionals nationwide.

In addition to promoting literary activities like conducting book fairs and mushairas, Syed Jamshaid Ahmed of Pharmevo emphasized the importance of constructing and developing a healthier society in Pakistan.

Famous poet Ajmal Siraj claimed that the life and literary creations of Iqbal were chosen as the theme for the upcoming calendar by an advisory council made up of educators, authors, and researchers.