Exports-led growth hypothesis in Pakistan: further evidence

The study considers the exports-led growth hypothesis using quarterly data over the period 1990-2008 in case of Pakistan. For this purpose, Ng-Perron unit root test, ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration and error correction method (ECM) for short run dynamics have been applied. Our results indicate that exports are positively correlated with economic growth confirming the validity of exports-led growth hypothesis. Exchange rate depreciation decreases and real capital stock improves economic growth.Exports, Economic Growth, ARDL Approach

The Significance of Socio-Political Context in Shaping the Authenticity of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Gender Discourse

This paper analyses an important series of episodes in politico-legal history of Pakistan from a particular perspective. It is generally contended by Islamic religious discourses that whatever has been presented by them that is the only authentic manifestation of the divine sources, i.e. the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. The paper problematizes the above contention and argues that the link between the divine sources and its human interpretations is not so straight forward. Without denying or undermining the role of the divine sources, it is argued that there are many factors which help formulate the authentic stances of the religious discourses and one of them is socio-political context of a particular discourse. To substantiate the above argument, the paper analyses the gender discourse of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Pakistan. The analysis underscores the relevance and scope of those socio-political factors which have played a significant role in construction of authentic stances of the Jamaat-i-Islami’s gender discourse at different stages of its formation

Qualitative analysis of Autonomization of teaching hospitals of Punjab: A case study of Jinnah Hospital Lahore

This study aims at evaluating the nature and extent of autonomy in the areas of hospital financial management and procurement. Autonomy in financial management refers to the freedom to generate resources for the running of the hospital, and the proper planning, accounting, and allocation of these resources; and autonomy in procurement refers to making all the decisions regarding purchase of drugs, medical and non-medical hospital supplies, and hospital equipment. The population of this study consists of all the medical and non-medical staff of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore (JHL). In this research design, JHL is selected as a single case and then multiple sub units of analysis are selected from the top level management of Jinnah Hospital Lahore to get information about the nature and extent of autonomy granted to hospital in the said areas. In this way, 14 top level medical and non-medical staff members of JHL were interviewed. The findings of this study show that autonomous hospital is not independent in making its decisions in the matters of financial management and procurement. Most of the decisions concerning financial management and procurement of the autonomous hospital are taken after the approval from the finance and health department. Key Words: autonomous public hospital, health reforms, nature of autonomy, extent of autonomy, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Punja

Design of a highly active Pd catalyst with P,N hemilabile ligands for alkoxycarbonylation of alkynes and allenes : a density functional theory study

Authors thanks EaStCHEM and the School of Chemistry for support.In palladium-catalysed methoxycarbonylation of technical propyne, the presence of propadiene poisons the hemilabile Pd(P,N) catalyst. According to density functional theory calculations (B3PW91-D3/PCM level), a highly stable π-allyl intermediate is the reason for this catalyst poisoning. Predicted regioselectivities suggest that at least 11% of propadiene should yield this allyl intermediate, where the reaction gets stalled under the turnover conditions due to an insurmountable methanolysis barrier of 25.8 kcal mol-1. Results obtained for different ligands and substrates are consistent with the available experimental data. A new ligand, (6-Cl-3-Me-Py)PPh2, is proposed, which is predicted to efficiently control the branched/linear selectivity, avoiding rapid poisoning (with only 0.2% of propadiene being trapped as Pd allyl complex), and to tremendously increase the catalytic activity by decreasing the overall barrier to 9.1 kcal mol-1.PostprintPeer reviewe

Perceived Transformational Leadership Style and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: A Case Study of Administrative Staff of University of the Punjab

In today’s dynamic organizations, leadership plays a central role in achieving organizational goals. Leaders are recommended to adopt transformational leadership style to influence the subordinates so that they may involve in an extra role behavior like organizational citizenship behavior beneficial to organizational growth. This study aims to measure the level of perceived transformational leadership (TL) style, the level of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and to investigate the impact of perceived transformational leadership on employees’ organizational citizenship behavior. In transformational leadership style, an innovation or transformation is introduced to both within organization and among individuals. Organizational citizenship behavior is cooperative and constructive gestures that are neither mandated by the formal job role prescriptions nor directly or contractually compensated for by the formal organizational reward system. Based on previous research, it had hypothesized that the relationship observed between transformational leadership and various dimensions of OCB was positive. In this study, population comprised of all the administrative staff of the Punjab University consisted of 15 faculties. Multi-stage probability Sampling was used. Sample was drawn at two stages. Firstly, stratified random sampling was used during which 48 departments/institutes/centers were selected randomly from the available population. Secondly, simple random sampling was done during which 13 employees from each department/institute/center, working in B Class BS 10-16 from administrative staff of the Punjab University, Lahore were approached. Finally a sample of 480 employees with response rate 76%  working in B Class BS 10-16 served as participants in this study, representing all the 15 faculties of the Punjab University, Lahore. The results suggest that transformational leadership and OCB are positively correlated. This study shows that transformational leaders encourage altruism, courtesy and conscientiousness in subordinates. So, organizations by using this can enhance the extra role behavior of the employees for their advantage. Key words: leadership, organizational behavior, employee motivation, organizational loyalt

THE IMPACT OF LOAN SIZE AND GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS ON INTEREST RATE SPREADS IN PAKISTAN’S COMMERCIAL BANKING SECTOR

This study investigates the effect of loan size and globalfinancial crisis on interest rate spreads (IRS) in Pakistan’s bankingsector. This study employs unbalanced panel data set of 22 commercialbanks in Pakistan for the period 2005-2014. By using fixed effectregression model, it is found that loan size is negatively affected bythe IRS which indicates that as loan size increases, IRS is reduced. Inthe same vein, bank size has a negative but insignificant effect on IRS.Liquidity and credit risks are negatively influenced by bankingspreads, whereas operating cost has a positive effect on IRS. Returnon assets (ROA) has no effect on IRS. Finally, recent global financialcrisis is also positively influenced by banking spreads which indicatesthat the financial system of Pakistan is globally integrated

Evaluating the Nature and Extent of Autonomy in Public Teaching Hospitals: A Case study of Jinnah Hospital Lahore

This study is aimed at evaluating the nature and the extent of Autonomy in Hospital Administration and Medical Care. Autonomy in administration means the freedom in deciding all the matters involved in the day-to-day running of the hospital and the discharge of the functions defined by the mission statement. Autonomy in Medical Care was meant to provide efficient services to patients at autonomous hospitals. The population of this study consists of top level administrative medical and non-medical staff of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. In this research design, Jinnah Hospital Lahore is selected as a single case and then multiple sub units of analysis are selected from top management of Jinnah Hospital Lahore to get information about nature and extent of autonomy. In this way with the support and cooperation of respondents, 14 top level administrative medical and non-medical staff members of Jinnah Hospital Lahore were interviewed. This study shows that autonomous hospital is not independent in making its decisions due to the increased role of health and finance department. Most of the matters concerning hospital administration and developing medical care tools are managed with the final approval of health department. Key Words: autonomous hospital, health reforms, nature of autonomy, extent of autonomy, public hospitals

Computational modelling of Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes and alkynes

The work was supported by the School of Chemistry and EaStCHEM.This perspective highlights the computational modelling of alkene and alkyne alkoxycarbonylation at palladium catalysts. We cover studies on Pd-catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of alkenes with bidentate diphosphine ligands, which reveal a hydride pathway is operating with an intermolecular alcoholysis step, where explicit solvation is mandatory to estimate the overall barriers correctly and model alcoholysis/copolymerisation selectivities. Subsequently, we discuss Pd-catalysed alkyne alkoxycarbonylation with P,N-chelating ligands, where an in situ base mechanism is operating involving ketene-type intermediates. We also discuss catalyst poisoning due to allene and designing a potential new catalyst tolerant towards allene poisoning.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

latrogenic fracture of humerus – complication of a diagnostic error in a shoulder dislocation: a case report

Shoulder dislocation is the commonest dislocation presenting to the emergency department, anterior being more common than posterior. The latter being less common has a tendency of being missed; this is supported by many cases in the literature. Kocher's method is one of the many methods of reducing anterior dislocation; there are many reported complications of employing this method