Factors Determining Public Demand for Safe Drinking Water (A Case Study of District Peshawar)

Overtime per capita water availability in the world as well as in Pakistan has been declining. Water sources have depleted and become polluted therefore, now water has become a scarce good. Resultantly, the inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are rooting major environmental degradation and health damages in the country. This study was undertaken to analyze the magnitude of awareness, perception, practices, and demand for safe drinking water. The study further elaborated HHs Willingness to Pay (WTP) for improved water quality and services in district Peshawar of NWFP, Pakistan. Primary data was collected from 315 HHs which consist 2455 HH members from district Peshawar. Schooling, exposure to mass media, HH income and occurrence of diarrhoeal diseases were used to measure the HHs response towards the health risks associated with contaminated water. Moreover, to find out public acceptability to government and private sector as service providers, HHs were asked two separate questions regarding their maximum willingness to pay for an improved water system by either one. Out of the sample HHs, 78.4 percent were willing to accept improved water system provided by government while relatively less HHs (55.6 percent) were WTP in the case of private company as the service provider. It is worth mentioning that according to sample about 76 percent HHs were not using any method for water purification at their homes in district Peshawar. This study empirically proved that the role of awareness besides the income constraint is the key determinants of demand for safe drinking water.water supply, environmental degradation, willingness to pay, water demand

Factors Determining Public Demand for Safe Drinking Water (A Case Study of District Peshawar)

Overtime per capita water availability in the world as well as in Pakistan has been declining. Water sources have depleted and become polluted therefore, now water has become a scarce good. Resultantly, the inadequate water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are rooting major environmental degradation and health damages in the country. This study was undertaken to analyze the magnitude of awareness, perception, practices, and demand for safe drinking water. The study further elaborated HHs Willingness to Pay (WTP) for improved water quality and services in district Peshawar of NWFP, Pakistan. Primary data was collected from 315 HHs which consist 2455 HH members from district Peshawar. Schooling, exposure to mass media, HH income and occurrence of diarrhoeal diseases were used to measure the HHs’ response towards the health risks associated with contaminated water. Moreover, to find out public acceptability to government and private sector as service providers, HH’s were asked two separate questions regarding their maximum willingness to pay for an improved water system by either one. Out of the sample HHs, 78.4 percent were willing to accept improved water system provided by government while relatively less HHs (55.6 percent) were WTP in the case of private company as the service provider. It is worth mentioning that according to sample about 76 percent HHs were not using any method for water purification at their homes in district Peshawar. This study empirically proved that the role of awareness besides the income constraint is the key determinants of demand for safe drinking water.

Household’s willingness to pay for safe drinking water: A case study of Abbottabad district

This study is based on survey data and used both the contingent valuation method and averting behaviour approach to capture HH's willingness to pay for services and quality in the drinking water sector. In case of the HH’s WTP for improved water services, the study estimates that there is statistically significant effect of location that in urban areas, HHs has more WTP for improved water services. The study also finds that sources of water have a significant effect on WTP i.e. the HH who have own source are willing to pay in the higher range (Rs 51–100) further tap water has significant effect on WTP for the first two quartiles. As expected, education level ignificantly affects WTP for safe drinking water.contingent valuation, averting behaviour, household survey, willingness to pay, Pakistan

Household’s Willingness to Pay for Safe Drinking Water: A Case Study of Abbottabad District

Drinking water is the basic need of human life. Safe drinking water is an essential component of primary health care and have vital role in poverty alleviation. There is positive correlation between increased national income and the proportion of population with access to improved water supply. An increase of 0.3 percent investment in household access to safe drinking water generates one percent increase in GDP. Whereas, provision of safe drinking water supply is an effective health intervention reduces the mortality caused by water-borne diseases by an average 70 percent. Inadequate drinking water not only resulted in more sickness and deaths, but also augments health costs, lower worker productivity and school enrolment [World Bank (1994)]. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate 1.8 million people in developing countries die every year from diarrhea and cholera, Out of these 90 percent are children under the age of five years. While 88 percent of diarrhoeal diseases are attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene [WHO (2004)]. The situation is not very different in Pakistan; the access to safe drinking water is estimated to be available to 23.5 percent of population in rural areas and 30 percent in urban areas. While every year 0.2 million children die due to diarrhoeal diseases [Rosemann (2005)]

In Search of Exchange Rate Undershooting in Pakistan

Exchange rate behaviour does not follow very obvious and predicted pattern. Many attempts have been made to predict its behaviour as much as possible. This research re-examines the Dornbusch’s model of exchange rate overshooting caused by price rigidities. Dornbusch’s assumption of full employment in economy has been violated in this research which creates the possibility of exchange rate undershooting. In response to positive monetary shock, interest rate decreases and exchange rate undershoots its long run equilibrium. This research explains the dynamics of anti-intuitive exchange rate undershooting. Apart from theoretical formations of exchange rate undershooting, this research also analyses Pakistani data for exchange rate undershooting or overshooting in response to increase in money supply. Quarterly data of twenty three years for exchange rate, nominal interest rate, price, real output and money have been taken and vector autoregressive technique has been used. Evidence of exchange rate undershooting in response to positive money supply shock was found. It also gives an important insight into policy making by identifying some probable behaviour of exchange rate

Assessing farmer’s Pesticide Safety Knowledge in cotton growing area of Punjab, Pakistan

A pesticide safety knowledge test was developed to assess farmer’s knowledge related to pesticide safety. Yes-No (true-false) type 25 item, test, was constructed and used in a sample of 162 pesticide applicator in two districts of southern Punjab Pakistan. The overall mean score was 17.2(72%). More educated and adult respondents performed better than younger and illiterate. Similarly large land holder scored higher than small landholders, indicating their more access to information and extension. Overall ten Items received less than 50% correct response. The result shows that farmers have reasonably good knowledge but it still has to see, to what extent that knowledge is being used practically. It could possibly be the future research topic.Health cost, Environmental cost, Pesticide knowledge, pesticide safety

Community Participation in Socio-Economic Development through Secondary Education in one of the Remotest Regions of Pakistan

This research study was designed to find out the role of community participation in Socio-economic development through secondary education in one of the remotest regions in Pakistan. The objectives of study were to investigate to what extent the community is involved in dissemination of secondary education in public sector, to find out the benefits of community involvement in secondary education, to unpack the issues and challenges faced by teachers due to lack of community participation and to stumble on the character of education in socio-economic development of Baltistan region. Researcher used stratified sampling technique. There are six tehsils in district Skardus i.e. Skardu, Gamba Skardu, Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar and Rondu. To give representation to wide spread geographic region of the Skardu District, these Tehsils were divided into two groups. The group 1 was comprised of Skardu, Gamba Skardu and Roundu while the remaining three Tehsils (Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar) were put into group 2. Seventeen institutions were taken as sample of the study from six Tehsils of the Skardu District formed 44.7% of available 38 Public Sector Secondary Schools in Skardu. Two teachers and the head teacher were contacted for the purpose of data collection from each sample school. Opinion of 13 community notables was also sought through structured interview. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, chi square and percentage methods. On the basis of findings it was concluded that majority teachers and head teachers of secondary schools viewed that the community participation is necessary part of education, majority of teachers, head teachers and community notables viewed that the main reasons of lack of community / parents participation are illiteracy, unawareness and busy life due to economic pressure, all respondents’ teachers, head teachers and community notables have supported the statement that the parent’s active participation can enhance the student’s achievements, and all respondent have responded that Education plays a vital role in socio-economic development of the society. The recommendations of the study included that there is great need to make aware the parents about the importance of their participation in child’s educational achievement, raise awareness about the relation between school and community, repeated contacts and meetings with the SMC members, conduct of seminars, workshops can play a vital role for the development of community participation in education, community members can invite in co-curricular activities like Parent’s days, cleanliness weeks, and prize distribution ceremonies and national and Islamic events, there may be a counseling center in school where counseling of students may be conducted and parents and community members may also be invite, through community involvement it can be possible to make more and more registration of children in the school, and  media both print and electronic is also an effective source through which community can be motivated to participate in education

Community Participation in Socio-Economic Development through Secondary Education in one of the Remotest Regions of Pakistan

This research study was designed to find out the role of community participation in Socio-economic development through secondary education in one of the remotest regions in Pakistan. The objectives of study were to investigate to what extent the community is involved in dissemination of secondary education in public sector, to find out the benefits of community involvement in secondary education, to unpack the issues and challenges faced by teachers due to lack of community participation and to stumble on the character of education in socio-economic development of Baltistan region. Researcher used stratified sampling technique. There are six tehsils in district Skardus i.e. Skardu, Gamba Skardu, Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar and Rondu. To give representation to wide spread geographic region of the Skardu District, these Tehsils were divided into two groups. The group 1 was comprised of Skardu, Gamba Skardu and Roundu while the remaining three Tehsils (Gultari, Kharmang, Shigar) were put into group 2. Seventeen institutions were taken as sample of the study from six Tehsils of the Skardu District formed 44.7% of available 38 Public Sector Secondary Schools in Skardu. Two teachers and the head teacher were contacted for the purpose of data collection from each sample school. Opinion of 13 community notables was also sought through structured interview. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics, chi square and percentage methods. On the basis of findings it was concluded that majority teachers and head teachers of secondary schools viewed that the community participation is necessary part of education, majority of teachers, head teachers and community notables viewed that the main reasons of lack of community / parents participation are illiteracy, unawareness and busy life due to economic pressure, all respondents’ teachers, head teachers and community notables have supported the statement that the parent’s active participation can enhance the student’s achievements, and all respondent have responded that Education plays a vital role in socio-economic development of the society. The recommendations of the study included that there is great need to make aware the parents about the importance of their participation in child’s educational achievement, raise awareness about the relation between school and community, repeated contacts and meetings with the SMC members, conduct of seminars, workshops can play a vital role for the development of community participation in education, community members can invite in co-curricular activities like Parent’s days, cleanliness weeks, and prize distribution ceremonies and national and Islamic events, there may be a counseling center in school where counseling of students may be conducted and parents and community members may also be invite, through community involvement it can be possible to make more and more registration of children in the school, and  media both print and electronic is also an effective source through which community can be motivated to participate in education