The Rise and Fall of Pakistan’s Textile Industry: An Analytical View

The textile industry of Pakistan is one of the most vital sectors for the economic growth of the country. It is a significant contributor to its industrial exports. Over the years, this sector has undergone a rise and fall due to various reasons. The sector has struggled due to high manufacturing expenses, frequent power shortages, faulty strategies and lack of support policies from the government. A worldwide recession, global tension and quality competence are also major threats to the sector. The textile industry of Pakistan is also faced with several challenges and opportunities like frail infrastructure, obsolete technology, adverse law and order situation and lack of investment. The main segments of this sector are clothing and garments, readymade fabrics, weaved apparels, twisting sector and chemical processing sector. Despite the fact that majority of the textile sales is done overseas to the developed countries, the sector is still way behind South Asian regional competitors and has not performed to its full potential particularly in recent years. Keywords: Textile industry, Economic growth, South Asia DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-12-12 Publication date: April 30th 202

Detection and prevention of Denial-of-Service in cloud-based smart grid

Smart Grid (SG), components with historical set of security challenges, becomes more vulnerable because Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has its own share of problems while Cloud infrastructure adds yet another unpredicted layer of threats. Scalability and availability, which are strong aspects of the cloud platform making it attractive to users, also attracts security threats for the same reasons. The malware installed on single host offers very limited scope compared to attack magnitude that compromised Cloud platform can offer. Therefore, the strongest aspect of Cloud itself becomes a nightmare in Cloud-Based SG. A breach in such a delicate system can cause severe consequences including interruption of electricity, equipment damage, data breach, complete blackouts, or even life-threatening consequences. We mimic Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks to demonstrate interruption of electricity in SG with open-source solution to co-simulate power and communication systems

Determinants of never users of contraception-results from Pakistan demographic and health survey 2012-13

Introduction: There are multiple social, individual and cultural factors that influence an individual’s decision to adopt family planning methods especially among non-users in patriarchal societies like Pakistan.Non-users, if targeted efficiently, can contribute significantly to country’s CPR. A research study showed that non-users if convinced to adopt lactational amenorrhea method can shift to long term methods in future. Research shows that if non users are targeted efficiently a 59% reduction in unintended pregnancies in Saharan Africa and South-Central and South-East Asia is anticipated. Methods: We did secondary data analysis on Pakistan Demographic Heath Survey (2012-13) dataset. Use of contraception (never-use/ever-use) was the outcome variable. At univariate level Chi-square/Fisher Exact test was used to assess relationship of baseline covariates with contraception use. Then variables to be incorporated in the model were checked for multi-collinearity, confounding and interaction. Then binary logistic regression (with an urban-rural stratification) was done to find relationship between contraception use and baseline demographic and social variables. Results: The multivariate analyses of the study showed that younger women (≤ 29 years) were more prone to be never users as compared to those who were \u3e 30 years and this trend was seen in urban areas (AOR 1.92, CI 1.453-2.536) as well as rural areas (AOR 1.809, CI 1.421-2.303). While looking at regional variation, women from urban Sindh (AOR 1.548, CI 1.142-2.099) and urban Balochistan (AOR 2.403, CI 1.504-3.839) had more never users as compared to other urban regions. Women in the rich wealth quintile were more never users and this was seen both in urban and rural localities (urban (AOR 1.106 CI .753-1.624); rural areas (AOR 1.162, CI .887-1.524)) even though these were not statistically significant. Women idealizing more children(\u3e 4) are more never users as compared to those idealizing less children in both urban (AOR 1.854, CI 1.275-2.697) and rural areas (AOR 2.101, CI 1.514-2.916). Women who never lost a pregnancy were more inclined to be non-users in rural areas (AOR 1.394, CI 1.127-1.723) .Women familiar with only traditional or no method had more never users in rural areas (AOR 1.717, CI 1.127-1.723) but in urban areas it wasn’t significant. Women unaware of Lady Health Worker’s presence in their area were more never users especially in rural areas (AOR 1.276, CI 1.014-1.607). Women who did not visit any care provider were more never users (urban (AOR 11.738, CI 9.112-15.121) rural areas (AOR 7.832, CI 6.243-9.826)). Discussion/Conclusion: This study concluded that government, policy makers and private sector family planning programs should focus on the untapped pool of never users (younger women from underserved provinces, in higher wealth quintiles, who desire more children.). We need to make sure to cover catchment areas where there are less LHWs and less providers as ignorance to modern methods and never been visited by an LHW are important determinants of never use. This all is in sync with previous literate from similar developing countries

Client satisfaction: does private or public health sector make a difference? results from secondary data analysis in Sindh, Pakistan

{Introduction: Researchers globally have strived to explore diverse factors that augment the continuation and uptake of family planning methods. Clients’ satisfaction is one of the core determinants facilitating continuation of family planning methods. There is a major debate yet scanty evidence to contrast public and private sectors with respect to client satisfaction. The objective of this study is to compare quality-of-care provided by public and private sectors of Pakistan through a client satisfaction lens. Methods: We used Pakistan Demographic Heath Survey 2012-13 dataset (Sindh province) on a total of 3133 Married Women of Reproductive Age (MWRA) aged 15-49 years. Source of family planning (public/private sector) was the main exposure variable. Outcome variable was client satisfaction judged by ten different dimensions of client satisfaction. Means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous variable while for categorical variable frequencies and percentages were computed. For univariate analysis, Chi-square/Fisher Exact test was used to find an association between clients’ satisfaction in public and private sectors. Ten different multivariate models were made. Variables were checked for multi-collinearity, confounding and interaction, and then advanced logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between client satisfaction and dependent outcome after adjusting for all known confounding factors and results are presented as OR and AOR (95% CI). Results: Multivariate analyses showed that clients were less satisfied in contraceptive provision from private sector as compared to public sector (AOR 0.92,95% CI 0.63-1.68) even though the result was not statistically significant. Clients were more satisfied from private sector as compared to the public sector with respect to other determinants of quality-of-care (follow-up care (AOR 3.29, 95% CI 1.95-5.55), infection prevention (AOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.60-3.62), counseling services (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.27-3.18, timely treatment (AOR 3.37, 95% CI 2.20-5.15), attitude of staff (AOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.50-3.33), punctuality of staff (AOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.92-4.13), timely referring (AOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.63-3.35), staff cooperation (AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22-2.51) and complications handling (AOR 2.27, 95% CI 1.56-3.29

Association of Serum Zinc level with Pre Eclampsia

BACKGROUND: Pre eclampsia is the commonest obstetrical complication in pregnant women. The etiology of pre eclampsia has yet not been clearly understood. It has a worldwide prevalence of 2–10% of pregnancies and one of the major causes of increase in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Zinc plays an important role in the course and eventual outcome of human pregnancy and is essential for normal embryogenesis and fetal growth. Zinc deficiency in pregnancy is thought to be associated with pre-eclampsia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum zinc level in pre-eclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This Hospital based study conducted at Gynecology Department of Indus Medical Collage, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sindh from October 2015 to March 2016 with the Permission of Head of the Department and Principal of Institute. The study groups consist of 40 consecutive diagnosed cases of pre eclampsia and 40 women with normal pregnancies. The serum zinc level of the subjects under this study was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The results of our study showed that serum Zinc level among the pre-eclamptic and was statistically significantly low as compared to normotensive pregnant women. CONCLUSION: The findings of current work are statistically significant to establish that concentration of serum zinc among preeclamptic subjects is lower than in the normotensive women during pregnancy

Demand Side Management Techniques for Home Energy Management Systems for Smart Cities

In this paper, three distinct distributed energy resources (DERs) modules have been built based on demand side management (DSM), and their use in power management of dwelling in future smart cities has been investigated. The investigated modules for DERs system are: incorporation of load shedding, reduction of grid penetration with renewable energy systems (RES), and implementation of home energy management systems (HEMS). The suggested approaches offer new potential for improving demand side efficiency and helping to minimize energy demand during peak hours. The main aim of this work was to investigate and explore how a specific DSM strategy for DER may assist in reducing energy usage while increasing efficiency by utilizing new developing technology. The Electrical Power System Analysis (ETAP) software was used to model and assess the integration of distributed generation, such as RES, in order to use local power storage. An energy management system has been used to evaluate a PV system with an individual household load, which proved beneficial when evaluating its potential to generate about 20–25% of the total domestic load. In this study, we have investigated how smart home appliances’ energy consumption may be minimized and explained why a management system is required to optimally utilize a PV system. Furthermore, the effect of integration of wind turbines to power networks to reduce the load on the main power grid has also been studied. The study revealed that smart grids improve energy efficiency, security, and management whilst creating environmental awareness for consumers with regards to power usage

Forensic Analysis of Tor Browser on Windows 10 and Android 10 Operating Systems

Smartphones and Internet have become prevalent in our society with various applications in businesses, education, healthcare, gaming, and research. One of the major issues with the Internet today is its lack of security since an eavesdropper can potentially intercept the communication. This has contributed towards an increased number of cyber-crime incidents, resulting in an increase in users’ consciousness about the security and privacy of their communication . One example is the shift towards using private browsers such as Tor. Tor is a well-recognized and widely used privacy browser based on The Onion Router network that provisions anonymity over the insecure Internet. This functionality of Tor has been a major hurdle in cybercrime investigations due to the complex nature of its anonymity. This paper investigates artifacts from the Tor privacy browser on the latest Windows 10 and Android 10 devices to determine potential areas where evidence can be found. We examine the registry, storage, and memory of Windows 10 devices and the memory, storage, logs, and Zram of Android 10 devices for three possible scenarios i.e. before, during, and after use of the Tor browser. Our results do not support the claims made by the Tor Project regarding user privacy and anonymity. We find that it is possible to retrieve significant details about a user’s browsing activities while the Tor browser is in use as well as after it is closed (on both operating systems). This paper also provides an investigative methodology for the acquisition and analysis of Tor browser artifacts from different areas of the targeted operating systems. Therefore, it can serve as a base to expand research in the forensic analysis of other privacy browsers and improve the efficiency of cybercrime investigations efficiency

Formation Evaluation of Lower Goru Sands of Khipro Block, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan

Formation evaluation is widely used in exploration and production in order to minimize the risk, uncertainty, and understanding of the detailed characteristics of potential reservoir rocks. This study is aimed to evaluate the Petrophysical characteristics of upper and lower basal sands of the Cretaceous lower Goru Formation in Niamat-01 and Siraj-01 wells and to focus on hydrocarbon exploration potential. These wells have been drilled in the Khipro block, lower Indus basin, which is the least explored for the reservoir quality evaluation. Present study characterized the lower Goru sands of the Khipro block. It is interpreted that the thickness of upper and lower Basal sands are 13m and 10m, respectively in Naimat Basal 01, whereas 9m and 17m, respectively, are reported in SirajSouth-01. The average effective porosity is 11% in upper Basal sands while 26% is interpreted for lower Basal sand in Naimat Basal-01. An average porosity of 11% is found for upper Basal sands in Siraj South-01 and 11% for lower Basal sand. Water saturation (Sw) calculated for upper and lower Basal sands are 22% and 19%, respectively. The hydrocarbon saturation (Sh) of 78% is interpreted for upper Basal sands and 81% hydrocarbon saturation reported for lower Basal sands in Naimat basal-01. However, 36% and 45% Sw have been recognized for upper and lower Basal sands, respectively. Whereas hydrocarbon saturations of 64% and 55% are reported for the upper and lower basal sands, respectively, in SirajSouth-01. Crossover effects in front of targeted formations confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons in the zone of interest. Lower sands of the lower Goru Formation in the Khipro block are favorable for hydrocarbon production and have potential for future hydrocarbon exploration activities