The Role of Internal Audit in Organization Goals Achievements: A Security of Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Perspective

There is currently considerable interest in the topic of internal audit and its contribution to the organization goals. Internal auditing could be used as mechanisms of risk management, corporate governance and internal control. The paper aims at examining the relation between internal audit and organization goals. In this paper, at first, the conceptual approach of internal audit, which could be used as a mechanism of risk management, corporate governance and internal control, is analyzed. Then, integrated categorization of the responses received from the SECP internal audit staff is depicted in three different tables (i.e. Coded in Common Pattern (Table 1), Word Frequencies (Table 2), and Linked Table (Table 3)). After that the role of internal audit in organization’s goals explanatory model presented. Finally, I suggest these areas for further research. The results point out that internal audit is not only vital in the efficient risk management, internal control and corporate governance but also play a crucial role in the business survival and success. Keywords: The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Internal Auditing (IA), Security of Exchange Commission (SEC), Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Corporate Goals

CSR Practices of a Company Toward Stakeholders: The Case of Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC)

The performance of the companies in corporate sector is reliant greatly on the practices of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); therefore in today’s business environment companies are paying more attention to the sense of CSR. These companies also consider the aspects of socio-culture environment into business practices and compliance with other regulatory and ethical issues. However, it has been found that CSR is being practiced in Pakistani firms in tobacco industry because the concept is new for the emerging economies like Pakistan. The paper consists of brief study about the CSR practices on stakeholder dimension of Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC). The basic aim of this paper is to examine that how companies engage their stakeholders in CSR activities and what is the role of stakeholders in CSR policies. This research was conducted by using a qualitative method and the case study of PTC.  Data has been collected from relevant scientific articles, research books, and online resources regarding CSR and stakeholders theoretical framework while empirical data was gathered through interviews and company annual reports. However, PTC products are injurious for customers’ health but their efforts for the environment and community make a good image of the company in the minds of customer and stakeholders. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Stakeholder, Health & Safety Environment (HSE), Community Involvement, Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC)

Study of Nursery Business in Harbin Region

A project on study of nursery business in Harbin region, Heilongjiang (china) was initiated during the 2013. About 64 % of the nurseries deals with the plants of mix categories, 28 % of them recorded that flowering plants species were in high demand and ornamental plants, 80 % of them obtained seed from Beijing, Wuhan and Xian , 52 % of them used plastic tubes and pots for growing of seed, 48 % of them used garden soil, manures and silt as a major component of plant growing media, 64 % of them recorded no application of any fertilizer, 72 % of the respondents recorded that there is only insect attack in their nurseries, 92 % of them apply insecticide at their nurseries, 64 % of them reported that there is great demand for imported plants, 100 % of the respondents reported that there is no availability of green house facility in the majority of nurseries, 60 % of them recorded high sale in spring season, 68 % of them reported that they used green cloth and plant shed as a type of shed at their nurseries, 76 % of them recorded that they pay rent to the government, 76 % of them used both type of propagation methods, 84 % of the respondents reported that they have nursery grower association, Furthermore most of them demanded training about recent research/mythology, certified seed and stuff, easy water availability, low priced fertilizers, pesticides and Bank loans with easy installments and procedure from the Government

Effect of Potash Levels and Row Spacings on Onion Yield

The research study the effect of potassium and row spacing on yield of onion was conducted at Dargai Malakand during summer 2012. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Potassium levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) were applied to main plot while row spacing (15, 20 and 25 cm) were kept in sub plot. Recommended doses of nitrogen were applied at two split doses and phosphorus and potassium were applied at time of planting. The studied perimeters were plant height, number of leaves plant-1, bulb diameter, average bulb weight, numbers of bulb kg-1 and yield (t ha-1). The maximum plant height (51.6 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (9.89), bulb diameter (5.93), average bulb weight (64.89 g), leaf width (1.33 cm) and yield (22.91 t ha-1) were observed with the application of 120 kg K2O ha-1. The maximum number of bulb kg-1 (15.78) was observed in control. On the other hand the maximum plant height (47.1 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (8.67), bulb diameter (5.64 cm) and average blub weight (54.92 g) were recorded at 25 cm row spacing. And maximum leaf width (1.26 cm) and yield (22.45 t ha-1) was observed at 20 cm row spacing. The maximum bulb kg-1 (16.92) was observed at 15 cm row spacing. The highest yield were observed with the application of 120 kg ha- 1potash application and at 20 cm row spacing. Based on the above result it is recommended that 20 cm row spacing with 120 kg K2O ha-1 should be used for best growth and maximum yield of onion under the agro climatic condition of Dargai at Malakand

A Review on Kentucky Bluegrass Responses and Tolerance to Drought Stress

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is an excellent cool-season turfgrass and is extensively used in urban green space, parks and sports fields worldwide, but it is sensitive to drought stress. Drought reduces turf quality of Kentucky bluegrass by influences on the shoot density, texture, uniformity, color, growth habit and recuperative capacity. It has been a challenge for breeding water saving cultivars and enhances water use efficiency in Kentucky bluegrass. Many studies have revealed the mechanisms of drought stress tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass via multiple approaches. The morphological and physiological attributes as well as molecular information were discovered for better understanding and improving its drought tolerance. In this chapter, we will draw a systematic literature review about Kentucky bluegrass in response to drought stress and provide future perspectives of Kentucky bluegrass drought resistance research

Rice Crop Responses to Global Warming: An Overview

The mean temperature might rise up to range of 2.0–4.5 °C worldwide by the end of this century. Beside from this, a prediction has been made that rise in minimum night temperature will be at a quicker rate as compare to the maximum day temperature. Rising temperatures not only affect the crop growth process, but also lead to direct changes in other environmental factors and pose indirect effect on yield and quality of rice has been observed, so at the present stage, it aroused public attention. Breeds, including through breeding and biotechnology to improve high temperature tolerance of rice help to mitigate the negative effects of high temperature, however, progress in this area have been slow. By adopting different methods like sowing, water and nutrient management can also to some extent mitigate the effects of high temperature on rice performance, but in most cases, these techniques are influenced by many factors, such as crop rotation, irrigation and other constraints like their applications are hard to applied to large area. Therefore, this chapter addresses (1) empirical reduction of rice yield (2) highlights the key significant mechanisms that influence main grain quality attributes under high temperature stress (3) inducing stress resistance and adopting mitigation strategies for high performance of rice

Enterprenuerial Motivation Amongst University Students in Pakistan: Proposing and Testing a Mediation Model

Objective of this research is to explore factors that contribute towards entrepreneurial motivation amongst university students in Pakistan. Data of 500 respondents from HEC recognized universities in Pakistan has been collected and analyzed for the purpose of our research. Data has been gathered from students of different degree programs commerce, business administration, banking and finance, and marketing department of public and private universities of Pakistan. A mediation model has been proposed and tested in order to achieve our objectives. Data has been analyzed using different econometric and statistical techniques. The results suggest that there exists some “psychological†and “economic†factors that influence the entrepreneurial motivation of university students in Pakistan. Over and above, there also that exits a group of psychological factors that partially mediate in our model. &nbsp

Problems Faced by Rice Growing Farmers and Their Behavior to the Government Policies:; A Case from Pakistan

Importance of rice in agricultural crops cannot be ignored as it is the staple food for more than fifty percent population of the world and a big source to cope with the food security issues of the world. Considering the importance of rice the year 2004 was declared as the international year of rice by FAO .Rice is cultivated over one hundred countries in the world. During 2011-2012, rice production in the world was 718.345 million tons and it was cultivated over an area of 163.463 million hectares.  In Pakistan, rice also enjoys a prominent status among cereal crops as in terms of area it is the third largest crop of Pakistan. In 2011-2012 rice was cultivated on 2.571 million hectares with production of 6.16 million tones and the average yield remained 2396 kg/ha. In the year 2012-2013, Per capita rice consumption in Pakistan is 15.30 kg/year. Since rice is not a staple food in Pakistan so every year a considerable quantity of rice produce is exported to earn foreign exchange. This present study was conducted in 2013 in two tehsils; namely Daska and Pasroor of Sialkot district of Punjab province of Pakistan. The main purpose of the study was to inquire the problems faced by rice farmers at different stages of rice cultivation i.e. rice production, rice crop protection and rice marketing stages. Out of the four tehsils of districts Sialkot, two tehsils were purposely selected due to the excessive cultivation of rice in these areas. Out of each tehsil, ten villages were randomly selected and out of each village, six farmers were randomly selected. Hence a sample of 120 farmers was selected. The selected farmers were interviewed and data were collected and analyzed. In terms of production related problems the findings showed that farmers perceived high price of fertilizer, shortage of canal water, high price of agricultural input, high rent charges of agricultural machinery, lack of consultancy facilities and lack of credit/finance as the major problems during the rice crop production stage. In terms of rice crop protection related problems, costly pesticides/weedicide and ineffective fungicide were identified by the farmers and in terms of marketing related problems of rice crop, unsatisfactory price offered of the produce, poor transportation, storage issues and lack of knowledge about market prices were identified by the farmers. The farmers also showed great dissatisfaction over the initiatives taken by government authorities to resolve the problems faced by them Keywords: Rice farmer’s problems; production related issues; crop protection related issues; marketing related issues; dissatisfaction level on government policies

Accelerating Growth: Unleashing the Power of Accelerator Programs as Strategic Investments for Startups in Pakistan

This research aims to assess the impact of accelerator programs on the innovation performance of participating firms, particularly emphasizing the roles played by peers, mentors, and investors. The study delves into how connections with others may inspire creative actions and propel new businesses forward. The data was collected using a standardized survey questionnaire, and the results were organized using statistical analysis. The results show that accelerator programs substantially affect company success, with mentors and investors showing a real correlation but peers showing no relevant association. These findings demonstrate the robust correlation between accelerator programs and successful outcomes for businesses in Pakistan. However, the results show that peers are not the only factor in determining the success or failure of a firm. Although startups play a critical role in bringing new technologies to market and stimulating economic development, their success is often predicated on drawing on the expertise of others outside the company