Pakistan’s Trade Performance vis-à-vis Its Major Trading Partners

In contrast to earlier empirical research that documents the import and export price elasticities at an aggregate level, this article estimates bilateral price and income impacts on Pakistan’s trade performance with its four major trading partners, i.e., USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. Using quarterly data for the period 1982-I–1996-IV and the Three-stage Least Square technique, the study documents the impact of real devaluation, real income, export incentives, and domestic inflation on trade performance with respect to each of the four trading partners.

Pakistan’s Trade Performance vis-à-vis Its Major Trading Partners

In contrast to earlier empirical research that documents the import and export price elasticities at an aggregate level, this article estimates bilateral price and income impacts on Pakistan’s trade performance with its four major trading partners, i.e., USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. Using quarterly data for the period 1982-I-1996-IV and the Three-stage Least Square technique, the study documents the impact of real devaluation, real income, export incentives, and domestic inflation on trade performance with respect to each of the four trading partners

EXPLAINING JAMMU AND KASHMIR CONFLICT UNDER INDIAN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION: PAST AND PRESENT

The Jammu and Kashmir conflict remains one of the oldest UN agenda items. However, despite the genuine plight and legitimate demand for the right to self-determination, Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue to struggle for their lives and livelihood under Indian oppression and state-sponsored terrorism without respite. This paper, therefore, attempts to glean into the history of the conflict, which has a strong connection with the contemporary situation, while answering important questions: What circumstances compelled people to rush to Kashmir soon after the independence? How has India, over the decades, interpreted, misinterpreted, and manipulated world opinion in its favour? Why and how have the Muslim world and international community shown apathy towards the beleaguered Kashmiris? Lastly, can there be a way forward, especially after India’s illegal annexation of the UN declared disputed territory? It also highlights options available for a plausible solution to this humanitarian issue.   Bibliography Entry Malik, Salma, and Nasreen Akhtar. 2021. "Explaining Jammu and Kashmir Conflict under Indian Illegal Occupation: Past and Present." Margalla Papers 25 (1): 23-35

Factors Associated with Occupational Stress among University Teachers in Pakistan and Finland

Abstract The study examines the interplay of psychosocial factors and works conditions on occupational stress among 531 university teachers in Pakistan and Finland with the help of a web-based questionnaire. Results from  an MANOVA  revealed that good working conditions, social support at work, and promotion and development opportunities were rated as significantly better by the Finnish sample. Workplace bullying occurred considerably less often in Finland than in Pakistan. Male Pakistani teachers reported significantly higher levels of workplace bullying than any other group. Although the working conditions, social support, and promotion and development opportunities were better, and less bullying appeared in Finland than in Pakistan,  but the difference in stress symptoms between the two countries was not significant. Keywords: Occupational stress, social support, university teachers, workplace bullying, work conditions, Pakistan, Finland

Studies on antihyperlipidemic and endothelium modulatory activities of polyherbal formulation (POL4) and its ingredients in high fat diet-fed rats

A compound herbal formulation (POL4) is used traditionally in interior parts (Distt. Badin) of Sindh, Pakistan, for the treatment of metabolic disorders like diabetes and hyperlipidemia. This study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of POL4 and its ingredients in hyperlipidemia and associated endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. POL4 is composed of equal proportion of Nigella sativa, Cichorium intybus, Trigonella foenum graecum and Gymnema sylvestre mixed in powdered form. Chronic (6 to 7 weeks) administration of POL4 and its ingredients mixed in diet caused a notable attenuation in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, atherogenic index, C-reactive protein and glucose, while it has increased high density lipoprotein levels. POL4 intervention markedly (p\u3c0.01) reduced systolic blood pressure in rats to 127±1.92 vs. 145.4±1.07 mm of Hg using tail-cuff method and significantly (p\u3c0.05) improved endothelium-dependent relaxation (75±2.88 vs. 82.75±1.22%) to acetylcholine in isolated aortae of rats in treatment groups using force transducer and PowerLab system. Similar activities were assessed on the part of ingredients of POL4. These findings indicate that POL4 and its ingredients possess antihyperlipidemic, endothelium-dependent modulatory and antihypertensive activities, thus providing an evidence to the vernacular use of POL4 in hyperlipidemia and hypertension

Pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of polyherbal formulation and its ingredients in cardiovascular disorders using rodents

A compound herbal formulation (POL4) has been used in the indigenous system of medicine to treat cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes and associated hypertension. POL4 and most of its constituents have not been studied widely for its therapeutic use in hypertension. This study is aimed to determine the efficacy and possible insight into mechanism(s) for the medicinal use of POL4 and its ingredients in hypertension

Spectrum of surgical site infection on the surgical floor; Increasing resistance to routine antibiotics

Objective: To know the spectrum of surgical site infections in general surgical patients so that specific strategies can be developed to decrease the morbidity caused by these infections.Material and Methods: All the patients who underwent general surgical operations on an emergency basis at the surgical unit of the District headquarters teaching hospital Rawalpindi from 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2017 were evaluated for surgical site infections. Surgical site infections suspected clinically were confirmed by culture and sensitivity. Involved flora and their sensitivity to various antibiotics were also determined.Results: Among 2202 emergency operated patients, two hundred and thirty-seven patients (10.76%) had surgical site infection confirmed on culture and sensitivity (C/S) report. About sixty-five percent of patients were male. Of two hundred and thirty-seven positive patients, the twenty-nine patient underwent laparotomy for penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma. Staph aureus was present in one hundred and forty-five (79.67%) patients. E.coli was the commonest Gram-ve micro-organism (70.95%). Forty-six patients (19.40%) were sensitive to Cefoperazone sodium followed by twenty patients (8.43%) to Piperacillin sodium and twenty-one (8.86%) each to Amikacin and Linezolid.Conclusion: Surgical site infection causes a significant rise in morbidity on the surgical floor. Most of the causative microorganisms are becoming resistant to routine antibiotics. Sensitivity to the broader spectrum of antibiotics like Cefoperazone and Linezolid is increasing