Determinants of the efficiency of Microfinance Borrowers and non-borrowers: Evidence from Pakistan

This study explores, whether micro finance is being efficiently used or not. As it has been observed that most of the micro finance is used for the non productive purpose. Where as the purpose of lending this credit is to finance the borrowers so that they could enhance their output and inputs. Data Envelopment Analysis was used in this study to find the efficiency scores of the borrowers. There after, Tobit regression was used in the second stage to explore the determinants of the efficiency. A total of 122 traders of micro level including 43 borrowers and 79 non-borrowers were interviewed to fill the questionnaires. While comparing microfinance borrowers with non-borrowers, it was found that microfinance borrowers were significantly more efficient than the small scale borrowers. Average Propensity to Consume (APC) is one of the major factors that has a negative impact on the efficiency. Education was found to have a positive impact on the technical efficiency of the traders. People are generally quite reluctant to take the loan from microfinance institutions due to insufficient amount offered, high interest rate and return of loan in monthly installments. That make the loan less efficient. Therefore it has been recommended the microfinance institutions to overcome these problems. Key Words: Efficiency, Microfinance, Data Envelopment Analysis, Tobit Model.

Institutional Credit and the Profit Efficiency of Micro and Small Scale Traders: Evidence from Faisalabad

In a country like Pakistan, where the people generally have shortage of capital due to low savings as a consequence of low income, financial institutions play an important part to finance the working capital requirements of the business. Data Envelopment Analysis was used in this study to find the efficiency scores of the borrowers. There after, Tobit regression was used in the second stage to explore the determinants of the efficiency. A total of 85 traders of micro and small scale were interviewed to fill the questionnaires. Mean Technical Efficiency was recorded at 0.78. Average Propensity to Consume (APC), Interest Rate (IR) and Number of times credit was taken (NTC) were found to have a negative impact on the Variable Returns to Scale Technical Efficiency (VRSTE). Micro level traders were more efficient than Small scale traders. Traders working in a rented shop were significantly more efficient than those who were running their business in an owned shop. Traders who utilized the loan for actual purpose were more efficient than those who partially or bulk amount of loan utilized for non productive purpose. Therefore it is recommended the financial institutions to work on screening policy and training workshops. Key Words: Efficiency, Institutional Credit, Data Envelopment Analysis, Tobit Mode

Factors influencing intention to create new venture among young graduates

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that are influencing the young graduates for intention to create new venture. The study further highlights how the attraction, networking support, entrepreneurial capabilities, self-independence and self-reliance influence the young students to initiate their new businesses. The sample size of this study was 255 final semester students of various disciplines in different universities from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The survey based questionnaire was used for data collection. Based on findings this study concludes that all variables, included in the study, play a vital role in new venture creation. Therefore, on the basis of findings this study concludes that young students are more motivated towards new venture creation and start their own businesses.Influencing factors, new venture creation, different disciplines, young graduates, motivation

Ribavirin Induced Hemolytic Anemia In Patients Infected With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia in patients infected by chronic hepatitis c virus.Study Design: Descriptive Case series study.Place and Duration:  Gastroenterology Unit, Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad from 15-10-2014 to 15-04-2015.Methodology: Total 102 patients were included. Complete and relevant gastrointestinal and systemic examination was performed with special emphasis on anemia and its manifestations. Every patient was tested with hepatitis C antibodies, (HCV RNA PCR positive), pre-treatment hemoglobin levels, and at twelve weeks, twenty-four weeks, and at forty-eight weeks of ribavirin treatment and documented on structured questionnaire. The laboratory data were also collected by the researcher and pathologist. Hemoglobin levels were checked before and after start of ribavirin at 12 weeks 24, and 48 weeks.Results: The patient’s mean age was 41.68±11.91 years. 41.18% of patients diagnosed with hemolytic anemia. A significant proportion of hemolytic anemia was observed in middle-aged group (34–48years), P–value 0.033. Mean reduction of hemoglobin levels were observed after 12 weeks. No significant association of hemoglobin levels was observed, in those who received ribavirin for 12 and 48 weeks P value 0.295.Conclusion: Noticeable frequency of hemolytic anemia observed among HCV patients treated with ribavirin

Shifters of Participation in Micro Credit and Credit in General in Pakistan

This study explores the determinants of participation in the credit market using Binary Logit Model on a total sample of 185 small scale traders including 85 borrowers and 100  non-borrowers in the third largest city of Pakistan “Faisalabad”. Two different models were estimated including one for the micro entrepreneurs and the other for both micro and small scale traders. Results indicate that higher Average Propensity to Consume is a major factor of entrance in the credit market. Family size and the level of education were also positively related with participation in credit market. However number of earners is negatively related with the probability of entrance in the credit market. H-L Statistics shows that model is good fit. Key Words: Credit Participation, Micro Credit, Logit Model

Smart handoff technique for internet of vehicles communication using dynamic edge-backup node

© 2020 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9030524A vehicular adhoc network (VANET) recently emerged in the the Internet of Vehicles (IoV); it involves the computational processing of moving vehicles. Nowadays, IoV has turned into an interesting field of research as vehicles can be equipped with processors, sensors, and communication devices. IoV gives rise to handoff, which involves changing the connection points during the online communication session. This presents a major challenge for which many standardized solutions are recommended. Although there are various proposed techniques and methods to support seamless handover procedure in IoV, there are still some open research issues, such as unavoidable packet loss rate and latency. On the other hand, the emerged concept of edge mobile computing has gained crucial attention by researchers that could help in reducing computational complexities and decreasing communication delay. Hence, this paper specifically studies the handoff challenges in cluster based handoff using new concept of dynamic edge-backup node. The outcomes are evaluated and contrasted with the network mobility method, our proposed technique, and other cluster-based technologies. The results show that coherence in communication during the handoff method can be upgraded, enhanced, and improved utilizing the proposed technique.Published onlin

Impact of Terrorism on Forex Market and Karachi Stock Exchange: Evidence from Pakistan

The present study is an effort for estimation of impact of terrorism on financial markets of Pakistan over the period from 2007 to 2010. The most terrorism affected era of Pakistan history. It finds the relationship between the terrorist activities and the two kinds of financial markets which are the capital market including the variable KSE stock prices, FOREX market which includes Exchange rate variable. A result show that terrorism has an adverse effect on the Karachi stock prices (capital market) Currency has also depreciated significantly due to the increase in the terrorism during this period. Time series data on daily basis has been used in this study. Key Words: Terrorist Incidents, Forex Market, Stock Marke

Decision Making Practices In Universities Of Pakistan

Decision making can be regarded as an outcome of mental processes (cognitive process) leading to the selection of a course of action among several alternatives. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion. The purpose of this descriptive survey was to explore the Decision making practices in administrative and academic matters in the universities of Pakistan. A sample of nineteen universities was selected by applying stratified random sampling technique.  The respondents, i-e members of university bodies; teachers and administrative officers were selected randomly. Three questionnaires constructed on Likert’s five-point scale were used for data collection. Data was tabulated and analyzed by using the F-ratio and Chi-square. The survey results revealed that overall decision-making practices in the universities were found unsatisfactory and, most of the decisions were made without application of management decision-making techniques

Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Oxalis corniculata

Oxalis corniculata is commonly known as Indian wood Sorrel. In Unani it is called as Hummaz and distributed in the whole northern temperate zone, United State of America, Arizona and throughout India. Oxalis corniculata is used in Unani medicine in the management of liver disorders, jaundice, skin diseases, urinary diseases etc. The plant been proven to possess various pharmacological activities like liver tonic, appetizer, diuretic, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic, blood purifier etc. Here we summarize the therapeutic potential of Oxalis corniculat

Primary splenic hydatid cyst: a case report with characteristic imaging appearance

A middle-aged lady presented with pain, tenderness and swelling in the left hypochondrium since one month. She had a history of contact with dogs and grazing animals. Sonography and computed tomography showed the pathognomonic signs of hydatid disease. The patient refused surgical treatment. She was discharged on Albendazole therapy and did not return for a follow up