Hamna Iqbal Baig

New research from 2024 found that every 1°C rise in temperature, the risk of preterm birth increases by 4 per cent and that extreme heat exposure can increase the risk of preterm births by up to 26 per cent. For women living in overcrowded, poorly ventilated homes, that danger is not a future threat - it is a daily, stifling reality. In January, Samira, 29-year-old first-time expectant mother, gave birth prematurely at eight months. Her baby was stillborn.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out a petition challenging the February 8 general elections due to alleged massive rigging. The court also fined the petitioner half a million rupees for wasting the court's time. This was decided by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar as they heard a petition filed by Brigadier (retired) Ali Khan.

For the women in Sujawal, February 8 will be like any other day. The fact that the district they live in will be going to the polls along with the rest of the country is not lost on them; they just believe it does not seem to make any difference in their lives. A significant portion of women living in Sujawal are involved in traditional roles such as household work or working in the fields. Their interaction with the larger world and interest in political matters is quite limited.