Measuring the Impact of Total Revenue, Total Labor Force and Oil Prices on Economic Growth of Pakistan

This study establishes the empirical relationship between GDP and total revenue, total labor force and oil prices. Numerous studies concluded profound impact of these variables on GDP of Pakistan as well as other economies. In this study, all the sources of revenue generating including tax and non-tax revenue and financial aid and grants are included. In total labor force, both male and female labor force are included. The impact of oil prices on GDP is also included in the model. This study is conducted to measure the impact and significance of these variables on GDP of Pakistan for years 1970-2012 using time-series data. Regression analysis results shows significant concluded coefficients. Unit root test verified the stationarity of the data. The results of co-integration test show long run association between the GDP and the independent variables. The empirical results conclude positive impact of total revenue, total labor force and negative impact of oil prices on GDP of Pakistan

Institutional Credit and Agricultural Production: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

In our prevalent and deprived agrarian sector, sufficient credit provision is a serious problem to implant technological advancements and achieve technical efficiency, moreover to hire efficient inputs to improve and rise agriculture output/income collectively and alleviate poverty eventually. In the middle of embroiled informal credit sector and recent increase in banking services in last decade shrink the attention to intend the formal sector’s optimum potential. In this perspective, this study is going to explore the relationship of agriculture credit on agriculture output. We analyzes the role of institutional credit on agricultural production using the time series data for the period of 1970 to 2008 and to give suggestions and recommendations about the promotion of institutional credit in agriculture sector of Pakistan. Cobb-Douglas production function is estimated using simple OLS, and all the variables are transformed to per cultivated hectare. Results show that agricultural credit, availability of water, cropping intensity and agricultural labor force has significant positive impact on agricultural production. The study recommend that institutional credit should be provided by the concerned organizations in order to boost agricultural output. The credit provision should be made to ensure the contribution of agriculture sector in economic development of the economy. Keywords: Agricultural Production, Institutional credit, Pakista

Empirical Analysis of Tax Revenues and Its Impact on Economic Growth of Pakistan

Tax is being considered as the leading source of government revenues in the history of mankind. The same is true for current advanced countries as well as for Pakistan. Government revenues play the leading role in economic growth of every country. In Pakistan Income tax, Sales tax, custom duties, excise duties, worker welfare tax and surcharges etc. are the main sources of tax revenues. This study was conducted to find the relationship between different kinds of taxes and GDP of Pakistan for years 1979-2010 using time series data. Statistical techniques used in analysis include Regression analysis, Unit root test, co-integration test, white test, and so other tests for reliability of the study. The study shows that there is significant positive impact of taxation on economic growth of Pakistan except WWT. Keywords: Income Tax, Sales Tax, Custom and Excise Duties, Workers Welfare Tax, GDP, Pakistan

Facebook Usage Styles and Associated Socio-Psychological Apprehensions: A Gender Based Study

Social media brought revolutionary changes in human communication behaviour. Social media has turned information seeking into a two-way process. The users can not only get information through social media but they can also share information. Therefore, social media changed the way users seek information and changed their communication behavior. The study aims to examine usage styles of Facebook and associated socio-psychological apprehensions. The study utilized a survey method for collection of data. The results show that unwanted contents, privacy concerns, distraction from family life, addiction to the site, frustration and hyper tension are found to be the risks associated with Facebook usage. However, no significant gender differences are noted regarding the stated concerns. Nonetheless, significant gender differences with respect to Facebook usage styles are found to exist by the previous researchers

DETERMINANTS OF AGRICULTURAL ASSETS LOSSES: EVIDENCE FROM SWAT ARMED CONFICT

Conflict has been a common feature throughout the world in its long history. Pakistan is no exception to such undesirable incidences and has faced conflicts in one form or the other since its independence. In 2009 Pakistan Army launched an operation against the rebellions in Swat and about 2.5 million of people became refugees and migrated to the neighboring safe places. The study was undertaken with the objective to determinants of assets losses during conflict and the rehabilitation strategies of the people in Swat area. Stratified random sampling method was used to collect the data. Data was collected from two different types of conflict affected areas through structure questionnaire. The study revealed that conflict reduced the average number of livestock by 26 percent in the fully affected sample areas and 19 percent in the partially affected sample areas. Monthly income from the sale of livestock products decreased by 54% in the fully affected sample areas and 16.5% in the partially affected areas whereas the average annual income from the sale of live animals decreased by 62% in the fully affected and 5.5% in the partially affected tehsils. The number of horticultural trees declined by 34% and 3.3% on the average in the fully and partially affected sample areas due to unavailability of inputs and lack of proper care. Operational land holdings decreased by 5.5% and farm employment decreased by 6.45%. There was a significant difference in assets losses during conflict subject to education level, farming experience and number of adult male family members. As a rehabilitation strategy male migration to work abroad was increased by 50 and 100 percent in the fully and partially affected tehsils respectively.Key words: Conflict, Swat, household assets, livestock losses, trees losses

Underestimation of weight and its associated factors among overweight and obese adults in Pakistan: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Weight loss is known to decrease the health risks associated with being overweight and obese. Awareness of overweight status is an important determinant of weight loss attempts and may have more of an impact on one's decision to lose weight than objective weight status. We therefore investigated the perception of weight among adults attending primary care clinics in Karachi, Pakistan, and compared it to their weight categories based on BMI (Body Mass Index), focusing on the underestimation of weight in overweight and obese individuals. We also explored the factors associated with underestimation of weight in these individuals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a cross sectional study conducted on 493 adults presenting to the three primary care clinics affiliated with a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. We conducted face to face interviews to gather data on a pre-coded questionnaire. The questionnaire included detail on demographics, presence of comorbid conditions, and questions regarding weight assessment. We measured height and weight of the participants and calculated the BMI. The BMI was categorized into normal weight, overweight and obese based on the revised definitions for Asian populations. Perception about weight was determined by asking the study participants the following question: Do you consider yourself to be <it>a</it>) thin <it>b</it>) just right <it>c</it>) overweight <it>d</it>) obese. We compared the responses with the categorized BMI. To identify factors associated with underestimation of weight, we used simple and multiple logistic regression to calculate crude odds Ratios (OR) and adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall 45.8% (n = 226) of the study participants were obese and 18% (n = 89) were overweight. There was poor agreement between self perception and actual BMI (Kappa = 0.24, SE = 0.027, p < 0.001). Among obese participants a large proportion (73%) did not perceive themselves as obese, although half (n = 102) of them thought they may be overweight. Among the overweight participants, half (n = 41) of them didn't recognize themselves as overweight. Factors associated with misperception of weight in overweight and obese participants were age ≥ 40 years (AOR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.8-6.4), male gender (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.6-5.5), being happy with ones' weight (AOR = 6.4; 95% CI: 3.4-12.1), and not knowing one's ideal weight (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.10-5.47).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this cross sectional survey, we observed marked discordance between the actual and perceived weight. Underestimation of individual weight was more common in older participants (≥ 40 years), men, participants happy with their weight and participants not aware of their ideal weight. Accurate perception of one's actual weight is critical for individuals to be receptive to public health messages about weight maintenance or weight loss goals. Therefore educating people about their correct weight, healthy weights and prevention of weight gain are important steps towards addressing the issue of obesity in Pakistan.</p

Relationship Between Psychological Capital and Counterproductive Work Behavior

Plethora of research studies and the acquisitioned knowledge of workplace experience signify the importance of behavioral positivity in the workplace environment. The research article empirically demonstrates the relationship between the psychological capital and counterproductive work place behavior and otherwise. This study includes sample of employees (N=235) of the faculty members of the universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Self-administered questionnaire was used to measure the construct and about 235 employees successfully responded in this research. The research finds that their state-like psychological capital has a significant influence on counter productive work Behaviour

Janitorial Services of Pak Army Hospitals, a Critical Analysis

Objective: To identify the existing system of janitorial services in the army hospitals, and to give recommendations for standardized policy formulation in military hospitals. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Tertiary Care Hospitals, namely Hospital A, B and C, at Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2019 Jan 2020. Methodology: Responses from 401 Healthcare Administrators (HCAs), Nurses and Janitorial staff were collected through a validated questionnaire, and hospitals' documents/ SOPs, cleaning audit reports, feedback process documents, communication mechanisms and training schedules were reviewed. Results: Out of 401 respondents, the majority were females (54.4%, 5 were HCAs, 143 were Nurses, and 70 were Janitorial staff). The availability of SOPs was associated with cleaning functional areas of hospitals (p=0.001). Awareness of the risk of infection among healthcare workers was associated with Hepatitis B vaccination (p=0.03). Knowledge of hospital areas regarding cleanliness among hospital workers was linked to providing cleanliness training according to job requirements (p=0.001). Conclusion: Hospital A performed admirably in most areas but was found to need more human resources, with staff shortages, high turnover, and a lack of adherence to SOPs. To achieve optimum performance, existing and emerging technology must be integrated with sanitary worker preparation and career development; costs must be reduced. Keywords: Hospital environment, Infection control and disinfectants, Janitorial service, Training