The Burden of Stabilisation on Provinces and its Implications for the Social Sectors

An agenda of economic reform encompassing a broad range of structural adjustment policies (SAP) is underway in Pakistan since 1987-88. These policies have an adverse impact on the pace of economic growth and created more poverty and inequality in the country [see Bengali and Ahmed (2002); Kemal (2003)]. These studies argues that during the last fifteen years each government is trying to stabilise the economy even at the cost of economic growth and delivery of social services. The negative impact of stabilisation policies on economic growth of the country is reflected in the decline of GDP growth from an average annual growth of 4.6 percent during 1990s as compared to 6.5 percent during 1980s. Similarly, negligence of social services delivery is reflected in the recent UNDP Report (2003), which, show that the ranking of Pakistan has slipped from 136 to 141 along with the decline in many other social sector statistics. The top government officials now also recognise these facts and the relapse of growth oriented policy can be heard more often. Trend in public finance statistics of the country clearly indicate that one of the important victim of stabilisation policies are the expenditures of provincial governments. In last several years the significant portion of onus of containment of fiscal deficit has been shifted towards the provincial governments. The onus of containment of fiscal deficit by all four provincial governments during the last decade has increased from 18 percent to 50 percent, which has devastating impact on the service provision and poverty reduction.

Multidimensional Poverty in Pakistan: Case of Punjab Province

This paper applies Alkire & Foster (2007) approach for measuring the multidimensional poverty. The data set used in the study is Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2003-04 of Punjab, Pakistan. Eight dimensions used in the study are Housing, Water, Sanitation, Electricity, Assets, Education, Expenditure, and Land. Results shows that at cut off K=2; Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Rahimyar Khan, Kasur, Okara and Lodhran respectively are the most multidimensionally poor districts of Punjab whereas, Gunj Buksh Town Lahore, Ravi Town Lahore, Cantt Town Lahore, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Allama Iqbal Town Lahore, Gujranwala and Jhelum are the least deprived Towns/Districts of Punjab province. Dimension wise breakdown shows that Land deprivation, expenditure, sanitation, housing and education are respectively the major contributors among overall multidimensional poverty.Multidimensional Poverty, Pakistan, MDGs

Why do Parents Make their Children Work? Evidence from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

Since few decades ago, the issue of child labour has detained the global attention. This study highlights the supply side determinants of child labor in case of Punjab, Pakistan. Multiple indicator cluster survey 2007-08 for Punjab was used. Probit model was used to capture the objectives of this research. Results shows that the absence of mother’s education, household head’s education, large family size, low level of family income, less education of child etc. were the factors that pushed the children into work that is often damaging to their development.Child labour, MICS, Pakistan

Measurement of SF-6D utility among patients with active tuberculosis

Inspite of so much development in medical technology, Tuberculosis (TB) is still the problem for humans. Few studies, in Pakistan highlighted the factors that affect patients health related quality of life (HRQOL) with active TB. The aim of this study is to measure short form six dimension (Sf-6D) utility scores of patients with active TB of Sargodha district. 120 active TB patients were interviewed and short form-36 questionnaire was followed. District TB hospital of Sargodha district was visited. Results show that Utility scores of female patients were better than male, while patients belong to urban areas have better utility scores as compared to rural patients of TB. Indoor patient’s utility scores were better than outdoor patients. Disease severity, use of drugs, depression, pain and death threat were the factors that negatively affect the patients health related quality of life, while opportunity of leisure and income level increase patients HRQOL.Sf-6D, Pakistan, TB

Status of Health related Quality of life between HBV and HCV Patients of Pakistan

The aim of the study is to explore the factors those differentiate health related quality of life (HRQOL) among hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) patients. Different public and private hospitals of Sargodha district were visited and 120 patients of hepatitis B and C were interviewed. World health related quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to construct HRQOL instrument. Multiple regression analysis was performed to observe the collision of demographic, medical, economic and physical and psychological factors on patients HRQOL. Results showed that HBV patients enjoyed better HRQOL then HCV patients. 86.4% HCV patients faces death threat while, 67.3% HBV faces this threat. 93.5% HBV patients feels depression while, 97.8% HCV patients feels depression. Urban patients HRQOL scores were superior then rural patients in both HCV and HBV case. Moreover, male patients HRQOL scores were better as compared to female patients. Age of the patient, disease severity, use of drug, pain, depression, financial hindrance and threat of death negatively influence the HRQOL of both HBV and HCV patients while, vaccination, income, sleep, opportunity of leisure and better living condition were positively related to HRQOL.Sargodha; HBV; HCV; Pakistan

Financial Development, International Trade and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

The study utilizes the Autoregressive-distributed lag (ARDL) approach for cointegration and Granger causality test, to explore the long run equilibrium relationship and the possible direction of causality between international trade, financial development and economic growth for the Pakistan economy. Imports plus exports of goods and services is used as a proxy for international trade, while broad money (M2) and gross domestic product (GDP) are used as the proxies for financial development and economic growth, respectively. Result explores a long run relationship between the variables. In case of Pakistan, economy supply leading hypothesis is accepted. Moreover, unidirectional causality is observed from international trade to economic growth and from financial development to international trade.Financial development, international trade, economic growth, Pakistan

Analyzing the efficiency differences among basic health units in Sargodha District

Pakistan has adequate infrastructure for health services delivery at primary level. The study aims to calculate the technical efficiency of Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Sargodha by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the choice of inputs and outputs being specific to BHUs operation. DEA model results reveals that the mean technical efficiency under, Constant Returns to Scale (CRS) and Variable Returns to Scale (VRS) was 0.719 and 0.807 while the mean scale efficiency was 0.88. Study exposed that 77 % BHUs were technically inefficient under CRS while 66 % BHUs were technically inefficient under VRS modal. Overall 76% BHUs were inefficient and destructing the infrastructure. Moreover, findings evidently point to adverse inefficiency of BHUs in health services delivery. Study concluded that existing high level of inefficiency in BHUs needs institutional fascination for scaling up BHUs to meet both regional as well international targets such as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and recommended such measures that may curb the waste.Basic Health Units, Technical Efficiency, Data Envelopment Analysis, Pakistan

The impact of human capital on urban poverty: The case of Sargodha city

The positive relationship between human capital and income/wages has been supported by empirical research. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) enormously emphasize on human capital for curbing poverty. The economic development in East Asian countries is also linked with investment in education for the development of human capital. This study is designed to investigate the relationship of different levels of education and experience upon urban poverty at medium sized city in Pakistan such as Sargodha. A survey-based analysis was carried out on a sample of 330 households. Poverty status of the individual is defined by using adjusted official poverty line. Results show that education and experience is negatively related with the poverty status of individuals and this fact sustains even in separate gender estimates as well. This implies education of poor is necessary in breaking the vicious circle of poverty. Combined effort by public, private, community participation and NGO’s with special focus on elementary (Primary and middle) education is suggested for reducing poverty by increasing the productivity of the poor through education.Human Capital, Urban Poverty, Sargodha, Pakistan

Neural stem cells as a model for screening environmental toxicants and a pharmacologically active molecule

Primary neural stem cells (NSCs) from postnatal mice are a valuable, economical, ethically acceptable and sensitive in vitro model for screening environmental pollutants and plant molecules with neuromodulating properties. An in vitro assay system based upon NSCs from the subventricular zone of postnatal mice was established to screen the neurotoxicities of pollutants occur in treated and untreated water samples collected from a local area of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. The assay was successfully employed to explore the neurotoxic impact of Glyphosate at concentrations presumed to be safe in potable water. The same assay was also used to assess the neurogenerative and neuroprotective properties of Troxerutin flavonoid. The NSCs model uncovered the deleterious effects of waterborne pollutants on the basic neurogenesis processes and the toxic potential of the Glyphosate molecule on neural cell differentiation, migration and cytoprotective genes. The model also revealed the neurogenerative activities of Troxerutin and its role in neuroprotection against the amyloid-ß42 induced inhibition of neuronal cell differentiation. The NSCs based bioassay should be included in the existing battery of bioassays available for screening waterborne pollutants. The present study may be helpful for regulatory authorities to revise the permissible levels of pesticides in drinking water. The study established a new screening method for a flavonoid with neurogenerative properties.Primäre neurale Stammzellen (NSCs) aus postnatalen Mäusen sind ein wertvolles, kostengünstiges, ethisch akzeptables und empfindliches invitro Screening-Modell für Umweltschadstoffe und Pflanzenmoleküle mit neuromodulierenden Eigenschaften. Ein auf diese NSCs basierterin vitro Assay, wurde etabliert, um die Neurotoxizität von Schadstoffen zu screenen, die in unbehandelten und behandelten Wasserproben aus einem lokalen Gebiet in Baden Württemberg, Deutschland, enthalten sind. Dabei wurden die neurotoxischen Auswirkungen des Pestizids Glyphosat bei Konzentrationen untersucht, die in tragbarem Wasser als sicher gelten. Der gleiche Assay wurde auch verwendet, um die neurogenerativen und neuroprotektiven Eigenschaften vom Troxerutin-Flavonoid zu bewerten. Die schädlichen Auswirkungen von wassergebundenen Schadstoffen auf die grundlegenden Prozesse der Neurogenese, das toxische Potenzial des Glyphosat-Moleküls sowie die neurogenerativen und neuroprotektiven Eigenschaften von Troxerutin gegen die Amyloid-ß42-induzierte Hemmung der Differenzierung neuronaler Zellen wurden mit diesem NSC Assay gezeigt. Der auf NSCs basierende Bioassay sollte in die bestehende Batterie von Bioassays aufgenommen werden, die für das Screening von wassergebundenen Schadstoffen zur Verfügung stehen. Die Studie kann darüber hinaus für Regulierungsbehörden hilfreich sein, um die zulässigen Pestizidwerte im Trinkwasser zu überarbeiten. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie wurde somit eine neue Screening Methode für das Troxerutin Flavonoid mit neurogenerativen Eigenschaften etablier

Health related quality of life assessment in patients with hepatitis: a case of Pakistan

The intention of this study is to dig out the demographic, medical, economic and psychosocial factors that affect the health related quality of life of the hepatitis B and C patient in district Sargodha. 120 patients of hepatitis B and C virus were interviewed. WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was followed for the construction of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument. Age of the patient, disease severity, use of drug, pain, depression, financial hindrance and threat of death negatively affect the HRQOL of the hepatitis patient while, vaccination, income, education, sleep, opportunity of leisure and better living condition affect HRQOL positively.HRQOL, HBV, HCV, Pakistan