Class, power, and patronage: the landed elite and politics in Pakistani Punjab

Following their conquest of Punjab, the British erected an administrative apparatus that relied heavily upon the support of the province’s powerful landed elite. The relationship between the two was one of mutual benefit, with the British using their landed allies to ensure the maintenance of order and effective economic accumulation in exchange for state patronage. Over a century and a half later, the politics of Pakistani Punjab continues to be dominated by landowning politicians, despite significant societal changes that could have potentially eroded their power. In order to answer the question of why this is so, this thesis uses a historical institutionalist approach to argue that the administrative framework emerging out of the initial bargain between the colonial state and the landed classes gave rise to a path-dependent process of institutional development in Punjab that allowed the latter to increasingly entrench themselves within the political order during the colonial and post-colonial periods. In doing so, the landed elite were also able to reinforce their bargain with the colonial state and, after independence, the Pakistani military establishment, perpetuating a relationship that facilitated the pursuit of the interests of the actors involved. In order to account for this path-dependent process of institutional development, this thesis treats the initial period of colonial rule in Punjab as a ‘critical juncture’, tracing the factors that led the British to rely on the landed elite for support, and enter into the bargain between the two actors that drove subsequent institutional developments. The thesis then explores the mechanisms used to perpetuate this arrangement over time, focusing in particular on the use, by the state and the landed elite, of legislative interventions, bureaucratic power, and electoral politics, to reinforce and reproduce the institutional framework of politics in Punjab. Finally, the thesis also looks at points in time during which this dominant institutional path has been challenged, albeit unsuccessfully, with a view towards understanding both the circumstances under which such challenges can emerge, and the lessons that can be learnt from these episodes with regards to the prospects for the creation of a democratic and participatory politics in the province

Patronage, Populism, and Protest: Student Politics in Pakistani Punjab

Despite the over three decades of repression in Pakistan under the regimes of General Zia-ul-Haq and General Musharraf Student, student politics began its revival with the emergence of student-led activist groups during the anti-Musharraf movement of 2007. While formal student “unions” remain banned in the country, student and “youth” collectives aligned with various political parties have started to play an increasingly visible and vocal role in everyday politics and mobilization. This paper seeks to contrast three of the main student organizations currently operating in Punjab, namely the PML-N Youth Wing (PYW), the PTI’s Insaf Student Federation (ISF), and the left-wing Democratic Students Alliance (DSA). By focusing on the broader social and political context, characterized by state repression and systematic efforts to undermine student politics, in which these organizations operate, this paper argues that efforts by mainstream political parties to cultivate support amongst young people today reinforce patterns of political engagement and contestation that perpetuate the depoliticization of Pakistan’s students and further entrench the country’s framework of centralized patronage politics. This is particularly true for the PYW, whose approach works to incorporate students within the workings of its parent party, and the ISF, whose populist appeals have, over time, given way to a pragmatic politics bearing considerable resemblance to that of the PYW. The exception here is the DSA, an avowedly progressive and radical organization that remains committed to activism, but whose impact is limited by the constraints imposed by the wider political framework

Factional federalism, state capacity, and fiscal constraints: Pakistan's COVID-19 challenges

As Covid-19 spreads across Pakistan, Hassan Javid, Sameen M. Ali, and Umair Javed (Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan) explain how the country's ability to effectively deal with the virus will be impeded by tensions between the central and provincial governments, a lack of state capacity, and fiscal constraints

Impact of egg size on the quality of eggs, chicks, and post hatch overview of offspring during the mid stage of yield (45th week) in Hubbard broiler breeders

Background: Egg size is the most significant component in influencing the performance of the laying flock. Though commercial broiler farming is in operation, little is known about how breeder hatching egg size at mid (45 week) stage of production period affects on egg quality, chick quality and post-hatch Hubbard broiler performance.Methods: At the age of 45 weeks, hatching eggs (n=930) from a commercial broiler breeder flock were collected and classified into three egg weight categories: small (60.25±0.25g), medium (65.10 ± 0.31g), and large (70.07 ± 0.61g). These eggs more classified into 2 categories, eggs for quality parameters and eggs for incubation & posthatch performance parameters.Results: Eggs from the small egg group had a higher shell weight percentage. The shape index and specific gravity were impacted by egg size, with larger eggs having lower values. Both male and female chicks' weight and length were significantly influenced by egg size. Data of the body weight gain indicated that as broilers age, the influence of egg size on post-hatch performance of chicks’ decreases. Up until age 21, female chicks' body weight gain was highly influenced by egg size. The feed conversion ratio of female chicks at day 21 of life was considerably impacted by various egg-weight categories, while it had no effect on male and female chicks at day 35.Conclusion: Egg size favourably influenced the features of the chicks (weight and length) but had no impact on the broilers' final live body weight, feed conversion ratio, feed consumption, or mortality

Phenological characteristics of the invasive weed Cucumis melo

Phenology is the study of periodic biological events. The time of weed appearance, growth and reproduction are very important for decisions on invasive weed management. Cucumis melo is an annual invasive weed of soybean fields in the north of Iran that reproduces and spreads predominately through seed production. In order to study the phenology of wild melon was conducted an experiment in CRD at Research Farm of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran, during 2012. Seeds first germinated after 10 days of planting, as soon as optimal soil temperatures were achieved. The weed exhibited monoecious tendencies, with production of male flowers rapidly followed by production of both male and female flowers on the same vine. Cucumis melo exhibited prolific fruit production, until senescence occurred at 75 and 92 days after establishment. First fruit formation was observed between 40 and 49 days after emergence, depending on temperature. To complete growth cycle, of Cucumis melo required about 448 and 733 degree days, respectively for late of May and 8 of June. The weed produced a maximum of 100 fruits/plant, but an average plant typically produced 48 fruits/plant. The seed number and seed weight was on average about 190 seeds/fruit and 0.55 g per 100 seeds, respectively. The results indicated that wild melon could produce a lot of fruits and seeds within a growth period of about 75 and 92 days.Keywords: Growth, monoecious plants, reproduction, wild melonPhänologische Eigenschaften der invasiven Unkrautart Cucumis meloZusammenfassungDie Phänologie befasst sich mit wiederkehrenden biologischen Abläufen. Auflauf, Wachstum und Samenproduktion invasiver Arten sind wichtig für Bekämpfungsentscheidungen. Cucumis melo ist eine einjährige, invasive Unkrautart, die im Norden Irans im Sojabohnenanbau vorkommt und sich vorwiegend durch Samenproduktion vermehrt und ausbreitet. Untersuchungen zur Phänologie dieser Unkrautart wurden 2012 auf der Versuchsstation der Gorgan Universität im Iran durchgeführt. Das Auflaufen erfolgte von Anfang bis Mitte Mai nach Erreichen optimaler Bodentemperaturen. Die Unkrautart zeigte monözische Tendenzen indem sowohl männliche als auch weibliche Blüten an einer Pflanze ausgebildet wurden. Cucumis melo zeigt eine starke Fruchtentwicklung bis zum Beginn der Seneszens nach etwa 75 Tagen nach der Keimung. In Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur wurde die erste Fruchtbildung 40 bis 49 Tage nach der Keimung beobachtet. Wachstumszyklus für Ende Mai und 8. Juni abzuschließen, Cucumis melo der erforderlichen etwa 448 und 733 Grad-Tagen. Die Unkrautart produzierte maximal 100 Früchte pro Pflanze und im Mittel produzierte eine Pflanze 48 Früchte. Die Samenanzahl und das Samengewicht lagen bei 190 Samen pro Frucht und 0,55 g pro 100 Samen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass wilde Melonenarten innerhalb von 75 Tagen eine hohe Anzahl von Früchten und Samen produzieren können.Stichwörter: Monoecious Pflanzen, Reproduktion, Wachstum, wilde Melon

Hybrid-Microgrid Planning, Sizing and Optimization for an Industrial Demand in Pakistan

Industrial sector is of great significance for the economic growth of every country. The energy crisis in Pakistan has become the prime stumbling block in the economic development of the country. There are many industrial processes that need uninterrupted supply; even a trivial outage can cost millions of dollars. The main cause of "load shedding" in Pakistan is that it produces a major portion of its energy from fossil fuels, whose price and demand is constantly increasing. Most of the customers at industrial and commercial level use Diesel Generator (DiG) as a reliable alternative source of electrical power when grid supply is unavailable. The use of DiG during loading shedding hours would increase the Cost of Energy (COE) per kWh and also enhance environmental emissions. Pakistan has a wide range of renewable power sources like bioenergy, wind, solar, hydel, geothermal etc. The distinct emphasis on the implementation of an industrial microgrid in Faisalabad, Pakistan has been specified in this paper. The prospective benefits of the microgrid fall into three major kinds: cost reduction, fuel saving, and improved environmental emissions. The optimized objective of this work is to maximize these benefits. Moreover while designing the hybrid microgrid system it encounters many design challenges like sizing of the components, system feasibility, COE, system reliability etc. This study contributes to the ongoing studies about hybrid microgrid system and draws attention to the optimal design and sizing considering several techno-economic factors including Net Present Cost (NPC), COE, supply reliability, capacity shortage constraint, battery state of charge (SOC), dispatch strategy, PV power generation and PV array tracking systems. Different cases are studied; microgrid sizing, techno-economic exploration, sensitivity analysis and environmental effects are addressed using (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables) HOMER. The results show that COE and environmental emissions have been significantly reduced for the proposed system

Effect of yeast supplementation on production parameters, egg quality characteristics and crude protein digestibility in hens

Background: Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has a buffering effect in the digestive tract, and proper feed additives in chicken diets can improve the birds’ digestive efficiency. The present study planned with aim to investigate the effects of different levels of yeast supplementation on the egg production, egg quality traits and crude protein digestibility in hens.Methods: A total of 84 hens (40 weeks of age) were fed the dietary treatments until 50 weeks of age. The hens were distributed into 4 treatments and 3 replicates with 7 hens per experimental unit. The yeast was incorporated into basal feed with various levels (0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2%). The production data was obtained during trial. For determining egg quality characteristics, 30 eggs from each treatment group were used at 14-day interval of the experiment from a 2-day collection of eggs during the week. The excreta from each replicate were collected after every 2 weeks for determining the crude protein digestibility.Results: Maximum egg production and egg mass were attained from the hens provided 0.15% and 0.20% yeast supplementation. The eggshell thickness decreased with supplementation of yeast. Higher yolk weight, albumen weight, Haugh unit and grading values were observed at 0.2% level than other groups. Crude protein digestibility also improved at high levels of yeast supplementation at all ages.Conclusion: This study envisaged that yeast supplementation between 0.15 and 0.20% could be sufficient during 40 to 50 weeks of age, to augment the overall layer performance. Keywords: Baker’s yeast; feed intake; egg production; egg qualit

Correlation of Microstructure, Rheological and Morphological Characteristics of Synthesized Polypropylene (PP) Reactor Blends Using Homogeneous Binary Metallocene Catalyst

A novel binary homogeneous catalyst system based on (I): rac-Me2Si(2-Me-4-PhIn)2ZrCl2 and (II): (2-PhIn)2ZrCl2 catalysts at various molar ratios was utilized for the synthesis of polypropylene (PP) reactor blends with bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD). The results of gel permeation chromatography analyses revealed that the catalyst (I) was responsible for the production of i-PP with high molecular weight (MW) while the individual use of catalyst (II) led to the production of an elastomeric PP with relatively low MW. However, application of the binary catalyst system led to high MW bimodal MWD products being highly dependent on the catalysts’ molar ratios. Increasing the molar ratio of catalyst (II) to catalyst (I) resulted in a notable enhancement of the products’ complex viscosity due to the increased MW, a higher level of chains’ entanglements and formation of amorphous blocks along the polymer chains. All products exhibited a single relaxation that shifted towards longer times upon changing the catalysts’ molar ratios. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the fracture surface of the blends, synthesized by the binary catalyst system, became more heterogeneous in comparison with the products obtained by the individual use of the catalyst (I). The observed heterogeneity was found to increase by increasing the amount of catalyst (II). Such morphological change was further corroborated by the dynamic rheological data, indicating a promising correlation between the linear rheological results and the morphological features of the synthesized PP reactor blends

Ingresos Petroleros e Inestabilidad Macroeconómica en Países Exportadores de Petróleo: un enfoque GMM

En la mayoría de los países exportadores de petróleo, los ingresos petroleros se consideran uno de los principales impulsores de la economía. Estos ingresos, como fuente importante de divisas, al menos, permiten al país importar diversos bienes de capital, intermediarios y consumibles, y generalmente cubren parte de los gastos corrientes y de desarrollo del gobierno. Sin embargo, los ingresos del petróleo son volátiles e inciertos debido a la naturaleza cambiante del precio global del petróleo. Esto indica que una parte importante de la economía en estos países está expuesta a una inestabilidad potencial que se supone como un factor anti-crecimiento. El presente estudio busca examinar el efecto de los ingresos petroleros sobre la inflación y el tipo de cambio real como indicadores dominantes de la estabilidad macroeconómica junto con el crecimiento económico en los países exportadores de petróleo utilizando el método GMM durante el período 1980-2015. Los resultados muestran que los ingresos del petróleo tienen diferentes efectos en estos indicadores en países seleccionados

Role of Salicylic Acid in Combating Heat Stress in Plants : Insights into Modulation of Vital Processes

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