A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

A Time Series Analysis of Energy Consumption, Energy Prices and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The present study is conducted to investigate the impact of Energy Consumption (EC) on the Economic Growth (EG) in Pakistan by using a trivariate model. Time series data of macroeconomic determinants of Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and Economic Growth (EG) are used to analyze the linkage among the variables. Annual data are collected from different published sources like World Development Indicators (WDI), BP Statistical Review and Economic Surveys of Pakistan for the period 1971-2014. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Phillips Perron unit root test are used to examine the stationarity of data and all the variables are found stationary in differenced form. Short run and long run linkage among the variables is examined through Johansen co-integration test and the results confirm the existence of one co-integrating vector among the variables. Granger causality test under Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is applied to observe the direction of between Energy Consumption (EC), Energy Prices (EP) and economic growth (EG). Unidirectional causality is found from Economic Growth (EG) to Energy Consumption (EC) and unidirectional causality from Energy Consumption (EC) to Energy Prices (EP) is also found in short run as well as in long run. On the basis of result of the study, conservation policy regarding to the Energy Consumption (EC) is suggested with a negligible or no effect on Economic Growth (EG)

Wet labs: A useful tool in training surgical residents in a third world country

•Wet labs are a useful, cost-effective and safe tool in teaching of Cardiothoracic Surgery residents.•In a third world country where advance real life simulators are not available.•It improves resident\u27s tissue handling and surgical skills.•Allows faculty members to give continuous feedback to their residents

A case of otogenic tetanus.

The authors are presenting our experience of managing an interesting case of a 12-year-old girl who presented to our clinic with otorrhea for 3 months and trismus for 1 week. Examination showed bilateral ear discharge with central perforations in tympanic membranes, palatal paralysis and trismus. Systemic examination revealed only mild stiffness of hand muscles. CT-scan head and neck was done to look for intracranial complications of otitis media. However, it revealed only decreased pneumatisation of mastoid cells. She was admitted in the hospital and started on intravenous and local antibiotics after sending ear swab and blood cultures. But she showed no improvement in 48 h. So on the clinical suspicion (trismus and stiffness of hands) remote possibility of otogenic tetanus was considered and she was given tetanus toxoid and immunoglobulins. She gradually showed improvement in her symptoms. Thereafter, culture from ear discharge was also reported positive for Clostridium tetani

Willingness to pay for improved drinking water facility in Samsani Khui, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan

Quality of drinking water is a universal problem specifically faced by many developing countries. Willingness to pay for improved drinking water facility of the people of a rural settlement, Samsani Khui, Johar Town in Lahore, Pakistan was assessed by questionnaire survey. This article intends to scrutinize the strong relation of these dynamics with willingness to pay by correlating them using chi square and multiple regression. Conferring to results, health status of the people of selected area revealed that 50% adults and 31.9 % children suffered from diarrhea within last 6 months. Education level of 48.6% people is middle school. Income of people lies between 5000-30,000 Rupees per month. People with poor health status held strong association with willingness to pay while low income level and low education level had weak association with willingness to pay. The highest and lowest value calculated are 53.969, -4.83, respectively and the mean ratio of willingness to pay was 1.835. The average willingness to pay calculated was between Rs. 1 to 5. This study depicted that various dynamics including health status, monthly income and education level of the people are the determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for improved drinking water facility

A rare case of constrictive pericarditis as initial manifestation of paediatric anaplastic large cell lymphoma requiring urgent pericardiectomy

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare end stage inflammatory disorder affecting both parietal and visceral pericardium leading to a right heart failure. Malignancy is the least common cause of CP. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) accounts for 10-15% of all Non-Hodgkin lymphomas in children. Very few case reports have reported ALCL that is involving the heart and only two have been published involving pericardium but all were managed medically. We present an interesting case of an 11 year old child who presented with an effusive CP that required urgent Pericardiectomy for managing right heart failure. His histopathology was positive for ALK + ALCL

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services

Economic Analysis of Organic Wheat Production in Pakistan: Adoption and Return on Investment

The rising concern of conventional farming emphasized the need of organic farming which utilizes environment-friendly and economically-viable production methods. Pakistan has great potential but organic farming is not in practice. This study examined the constraints in adopting organic wheat and its impact on return on investment by employing farm level data of 300 wheat growers. We employ endogenous switching regression (ESR) approach that accounts for selection bias. The results show that organic wheat has significant and positive impact on the returns but adoption is slow due to number of limiting factors. Illiteracy, lack of information, liquidity constraint, complicated and costly certification process, absence of organic market and small land holdings are the major limiting factors for the adoption. Policy makers should focus to overcome the constraints of organic farming by providing easy, timely and adequate credit. Awareness and motivation of farmers should be done through education, training and extension services

Microfinanças e empoderamento de mulheres: uma análise de regressão de comutação endógena

Women in Pakistan are suffering from a great social and economic deprivation due to gender discrimination and inequitable distribution of resources. This paper examines the determinants and extent of women empowerment by their participation in microfinance programs. Data for this study were collected from different areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan, where most of the households were poor and had borrowed money from different microfinance institutes. Keeping in view the disguised endogeneity, Endogenous Switching Regression Model was employed which accounts for selection bias because of observable and unobservable factors. The analysis revealed that education level, household size, family system, educational expenditures, income level and the ownership of different assets like sewing machines have the statistically significant impact on the women decision to work and hence promote women empowerment. It is concluded that the government in developing countries should introduce income-generating activities, especially for women by providing them access to financial resources.Las mujeres en Pakistán están sufriendo una gran carencia social y económica debido a la discriminación de género y la distribución desigual de los recursos. Este documento examina los determinantes y el alcance del empoderamiento de las mujeres por su participación en los programas de microfinanzas. Los datos para este estudio fueron recolectados de diferentes áreas de Faisalabad, Pakistán, donde la mayoría de los hogares eran pobres y habían tomado dinero prestado de diferentes institutos de microfinanzas. Teniendo en cuenta la endogeneidad disfrazada, se empleó el Modelo de Regresión de Conmutación Endógena que explica el sesgo debido a factores observables y no observables. El análisis reveló que el nivel educativo, el tamaño del hogar, el sistema familiar, los gastos educativos, el nivel de ingresos y la propiedad de diferentes activos, como las máquinas de coser, tienen un impacto estadísticamente significativo en la decisión de las mujeres de trabajar y, por lo tanto, promover el empoderamiento de las mujeres. Se concluye que el gobierno de los países en desarrollo debe introducir actividades generadoras de ingresos, especialmente para las mujeres, proporcionándoles acceso a recursos financierosAs mulheres no Paquistão sofrem de uma grande privação social e econômica devido à discriminação de gênero e à distribuição desigual de recursos. Este artigo examina os determinantes e a extensão do empoderamento das mulheres pela sua participação em programas de microfinanças. Os dados para este estudo foram coletados em diferentes áreas de Faisalabad, Paquistão, onde a maioria dos domicílios era pobre e tinha tomado dinheiro emprestado de diferentes institutos de microfinanças. Tendo em vista a endogeneidade disfarçada, empregou-se o Modelo de Regressão por Comutação Endógena, que considera o viés de seleção por causa de fatores observáveis e inobserváveis. A análise revelou que o nível de escolaridade, tamanho da família, sistema familiar, gastos com educação, nível de renda e posse de diferentes ativos, como máquinas de costura, têm impacto estatisticamente significativo na decisão das mulheres de trabalhar e, portanto, promovem o empoderamento das mulheres. Conclui-se que o governo dos países em desenvolvimento deve introduzir atividades geradoras de renda, especialmente para as mulheres, proporcionando-lhes acesso a recursos financeiro