ON Aug 26, 1976, a study conducted by the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) revealed that more than 30 percent of school-going children in Karachi suffered from thyroid enlargement because of which they found it difficult to swallow food and breathe properly. The experts, who surveyed over 2,000 children in the city, attributed the high prevalence of thyroid enlargement to iodine deficiency.

The centre was in the news a couple of days earlier, too. On Aug 24, it was learnt that a diploma course in occupational therapy introduced by the JPMC four years back with the assistance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) had been recognised by the University of Karachi (KU) as a three-year degree course. The WHO had provided two experts to arrange the course along scientific lines. With its recognition as a BSc degree by the university, the organisation had decided to send another expert from Sweden to the Sindh capital. Thus far, two batches of 15 students had completed their two-and-a-half years’ diploma in occupational therapy.

While modern trends were being seen in the health sector, somewhere else an old piece of history was being removed. On Aug 25, this newspaper reported that one of the oldest road over-rail bridges built in 1896, popularly known as Kalapul, was being dismantled by Railway authorities. The life of the bridge, connecting Karachi Cantonment to Old City, had expired a few years ago. When the new road over-bridge was constructed about a furlong away in 1970-71, Kalapul was declared closed for heavy vehicular traffic. For the past two years, it was being used by pedestrians. Here, it should be mentioned that the railway line from Keamari to Kotri was laid in 1861. The 80-year-old Kalapul was originally named ‘Wagoda Road Over-Bridge’ after an American military officer who was stationed at Karachi Cantonment with an American regiment. It was built by military authorities but maintained by the Railways. The 22-foot wide facility was primarily made to facilitate military traffic movement from the cantonment to Old City. It was meant to bear vehicular traffic of three-tonne axle load. In 1941, it was reconditioned at a cost of Rs29,000 to bear 10-tonne axle load.

With respect to the sociocultural side of Karachi life that week, an important event took place on Aug 26. A book titled Quaid-i-Azam Quiz by Zaki Ahmed Zaki was launched at Ghalib Library by the private secretary of the Quaid, Syed Matloobul Hasan. The publication, which was described by speakers at the launch as ‘a shortcut to the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s life’ was based on the questions about the great leader’s political, social, personal and family life along with their answers. The programme was held in connection with the Quaid’s centenary celebrations. Addressing the audience on the occasion, Mr Matloobul Hasan called for exploring the important aspects of the Quaid’s life which had hitherto remained unknown. Prior to him, Rizwan Ahmed, Secretary of the Quaid-i-Azam Foundation, spoke.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026