Comparative Distributions of Hazard Modeling Analysis

In this paper we present the comparison among the distributions used in hazard analysis. Simulation technique has been used to study the behavior of hazard distribution modules. The fundamentals of Hazard issues are discussed using failure criteria. We present the flexibility of the hazard modeling distribution that approaches to different distributions

Horticulture policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Prepared as part of the Technical Assistance to Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanPakistan’s rich soil and four seasons are favorable for horticulture. The country’s horticultural sector: (a) benefits from favourable and diversified agroecological conditions; (b) geographically and strategically well placed to enhance its exports to highly competitive but lucrative markets like Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, China, Central Asian Republics, Europe and Far East; and (c) plays a major socioeconomic role in Pakistan, in particular for women’s economic empowerment. While Pakistan is a major producer of horticultural products, its tremendous export potential remains largely untapped. The sector’s structure, the characteristics and varieties of the Fruits and Vegetables (F&V) grown locally, and the way in which F&V are being cultivated, aggregated, and transported have a huge bearing on the sector’s trade performance and have a tremendous impact on its competitiveness. The production base is highly fragmented, with approximately 85% of the orchards having an area of less than 12.5 acres

Seed system of Pakistan: Policy challenges and prospects

The seed industry in Pakistan has undergone significant developments since the 1950s and has transitioned from ‘Green Revolution’ to ‘Gene Revolution’. The 2015 amendment in the Seed Act, 1976, and the enactment of Plant Breeders’ Rights Act and Rules have provided long awaited intellectual property protection for proprietary seed. Notwithstanding this fundamental change, the challenge of effective enforcement of intellectual property rights remains. This paper presents how the seed industry has evolved over the years through evaluating the regulatory and institutional framework along with looking into the major challenges that still plague the seed system of Pakistan. It also explores how the private sector can be incentivized to invest in the seed sector while protecting the farmers’ rights. Findings reveal that there seems to be a lot of scope for strengthening the seed system of Pakistan via encouraging private sector participation mainly through developing proactive markets with strong institutional mechanism along with scientific and time bound regulatory approval framework. An appraisal of the international best practices divulges that technological backstopping, developing public-private partnerships, building institutional capacity for effective enforcement of regulatory regime and availability of information to farmers for selecting quality seed are equally vital for creating a well-functioning seed system in Pakistan

Promoting oil seed crops in Pakistan: Prospects and constraints

Oilseeds in Pakistan characterizes a policy failure as the production of oilseeds as well as edible oil has been on the decline despite various initiatives. The country has been augmenting growing demand-supply gap through imports since early 1970. The domestic production contributes only 13-15 percent of the total consumption while 85-87 percent is met through imports. Per capita consumption of vegetable oil has risen from 5.31 kg in 1973-74 to 20 kg in 2018 and is likely to move to 22 kg by 2028 projecting total consumption to 6.5 million tons by 2028 against current local production of less than 0.5 million tons, widening the demand-supply gap further. The import bill for these products has reached over US$4 billion in FY2021 which is straining the balance of trade and the balance of payment. With global uncertainties and challenges facing the oilseeds sector including the sharp price fluctuations and market instability and favorable tariffs for imports, the import bill is likely to move upward underscoring the need for well thought out policy and planning

Comparison of Early vs. Late Tracheostomy in Subdural Hematoma Operated at GCS Six or Below

Objectives:To compare the outcomes of early tracheostomy vs. late tracheostomy in post-operative patients after acute subdural hematoma at receiving GCS (Glasgow comma scale) of six or below. Method:  A quasi observational study was conducted on 30 patients with acute subdural hematoma after RTA (road traffic accident) and were operated in The Department of Neurosurgery Unit 2, Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, LGH, Lahore. The age range was 20 – 65 years. All patients were operated upon within 12 hours of RTA. Results:  In Group A, 12 (40%) patients, decompressive craniectomy with the evacuation of acute subdural hematoma and early tracheostomy were performed. In Group B, 8 (26%) patients’ craniotomy and evacuation of acute subdural hematoma were done along with early tracheostomy. In 6(20%) patients, decompressive craniectomy and evacuation were done and their tracheostomies were done at the 10th post-operative day. In 4 (13.33%) patients’ craniotomy and evacuation of hematoma done and their tracheostomies were also done at 10th post-operative day. In Group A, on 5th postoperative day GCS of 16 (53.33%) patients with early tracheostomies and fewer comorbidities improved, they were extubated, while 2 (6.67%) patients did not improve and 2 (6.67%) patients died. In Group B, in 30 patients with late tracheostomies, only 4 (13.33%) patients were improved. On 10th post-op day, GCS of 4 (13.33%) patients improved, GCS of 3 (10%) patients not improved and 3 (10%) patients died. Conclusion:  Early tracheostomy in patients with acute subdural hematoma yields good results as compared to late tracheostomy

Results of Conservative Management of CSF Rhinorrhea in Post Traumatic Patients

Objectives:  We aimed to see the results of conservative management of CSF rhinorrhea in post-traumatic patients. Material and Methods:  An observational study was conducted on 50 patients for 3 months from 1st November 2021 to 31th Jan 2022. Patients presented to neurosurgery unit II, PINS. All patients had a history of road traffic accidents (RTA). Results:  The age range was 10 – 50 years. The mean age was 25 years. All patients were managed conservatively for one week. We advised complete bed rest to all patients for 2 weeks. Head ends of all patients were slightly inclined from 15 – 30 degrees to reduce pressure in basal cisterns. We gave acetazolamide, mannitol, antibiotics, and anti-epileptic medication to all patients. CSF rhinorrhea in our 43 (86%) patients was stopped completely. In our 5 (10%) patients, CSF rhinorrhea was cured completely after doing a lumbar puncture with drainage of CSF and with the placement of a lumbar drain at a rate of 10 ml per hour. In our 2 (4%) patients, CSF rhinorrhea was not cured. We have to do surgery either by trans cranial or endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhea. Conclusion:  CSF rhinorrhea is best cured by conservative management except in 4% of cases

Model farm services centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Evaluation and the way forward

The sub-national Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan enacted Farm Services Centers Act, 2014, to establish Model Farm Services Centers (MFSCs) and Farm Services Centers as “one stop-shop” based on public-private partnership principle to strengthen extension system. The aim of these Centers is to empower small farmers at a platform to enhance their knowledge and skills and availability of quality agricultural inputs as stipulated in Section 4(g) of the Act, 2014, that each FSC shall “purchase certified seed, fertilizers, animal husbandry services, quality veterinary heath care services and medicines, farm machinery, expertise and technology for provision to the members who are registered with the Centre on affordable rates in comparison to open market rates”. The objective is to improve rural livelihoods, and development of the rural economy

A 2019-20 social accounting matrix for Balochistan, Pakistan

Prepared as part of the Technical Assistance to the Government of Balochistan in collaboration with Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences (BUITEMS) and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University (SBKWU), QuettaThis paper documents the different steps followed to construct Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for Balochistan for the year 2019-20. More precisely, it describes the estimation methods and the nature of the data used in developing the SAM at the subnational level. The Balochistan SAM includes 13 production activities, 4 factors of production, 4 household groups and rest of the world account, assessing linkages between production, factor income distribution, and households’ incomes and expenditures, and capturing distributional effects. The Balochistan SAM reveals that the shares of services and manufacturing sector remains lower than national average and there is an overwhelming contribution of the livestock and horticulture sector in the subnational economy which has the potential in boosting national livestock and horticulture exports. Further, the consumption pattern in Balochistan supports Engle’s law of consumption showing that with an increase in households’ income, the share of expenditure on food decreases and consumption of non-food items increases. This paper is organized as follows. The first section presents an overview of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The second Section highlights the background of Social Accounting Matrix and its key features. The third section review the literature and various efforts made to develop Pakistan SAM with varying features. The fourth section describes the process and the methodology used to develop SAM. The fifth section presents the structure of Balochistan SAM, accounts, and data sources and elaborates the process and techniques used to balance Balochistan SAM. The sixth section highlights the structure of Balochistan’s economy and an evaluation of value addition. The seventh section underscores the key findings of Balochistan SAM. The final section underlines how the SAM Balochistan can contribute to evidence-based policy making that helps in economic growth and reducing poverty in Balochistan

Strengthening groundwater governance in Pakistan

Pakistan Agricultural Capacity Enhancement Program (PACE

Pakistan: A cost-benefit analysis of crop rotation practice in rainfed areas

Pakistan Agricultural Capacity Enhancement Program (PACE