EXPLORING PROBLEMS OF MARKETING IN WOOLEN COTTAGE INDUSTRY IN CHITRAL

This study focuses on the issues associated with the marketing of a local product in order to develop a strategic awareness of the obstacles and opportunities. The problem is assessed using sequential mix methodologies, which include quantitative research followed by a qualitative investigation. Primary data were obtained using questionnaires and semi-structured interview schedules from 220 and 40 workers, respectively, out of a total population of 3000 operating in the Garum Chashma Valley's woolen cottage industries. Because the study area is dispersed and mountainous, convenience sampling was adopted. The study reveals the issues that local artists confront, such as a paucity of Kari wool, a lack of marketing tactics, powerful middlemen, insufficient skills, and fierce competition. The study describes the challenges faced by household woolen industries in Garum Chashma, aiming to raise awareness among diverse stakeholders regarding the issues and potential opportunities within this crucial sector of the local economy. The goal is to stimulate the recovery and revitalization of the industry

Fixed point results for the complex fractal generation in the S -iteration orbit with s -convexity

Since the introduction of complex fractals by Mandelbrot they gained much attention by the researchers. One of the most studied complex fractals are Mandelbrot and Julia sets. In the literature one can find many generalizations of those sets. One of such generalizations is the use of the results from fixed point theory. In this paper we introduce in the generation process of Mandelbrot and Julia sets a combination of the S-iteration, known from the fixed point theory, and the s-convex combination. We derive the escape criteria needed in the generation process of those fractals and present some graphical examples

Higher Order Methods of the Basic Family of Iterations via S-Iteration Scheme with s-Convexity

There are many methods for solving a polynomial equation and many different modifications of those methods have been proposed in the literature. One of such modifications is the use of various iteration processes taken from the fixed point theory. In this paper, we propose a modification of the iteration processes used in the Basic Family of iterations by replacing the convex combination with an s-convex one. In our study, we concentrate only on the S-iteration with s-convexity. We present some graphical examples, the so-called polynomiographs, and numerical experiments showing the dependency of polynomiograph’s generation time on the value of the s parameter in the s-convex combination

Factors Affecting the Integration of E-Procurement in the Public Sector of Pakistan with an Emphasis on Combating Corruption

The aim of study to investigates the role of e-procurement technologies to mitigate corruption within the public procurement sector of Pakistan due to which E-procurement can’t be implemented. It examines the factors that contribute to corruption probability in government procurement process. The implementation of E-Procurement, within the public sector represents a significant transformation in the country's governance which serves as a strategic response to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement processes. In the design of E-procurement adoption, three primary factors were taken into consideration to address obstacles: Monopoly power; Information asymmetry; Transparency and accountability. A survey was distributed to 232 procurement specialists and government suppliers; the approach chosen involves the distribution of a well-structured closed-ended questionnaire to enable quantitative assessment, utilizing a convenience sampling method. Obtained informed consent from participants that ensure participants understand the purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits of the research project and voluntarily agree to participate. The SPSS software was employed to compile the results of multiple regression models. The findings reveal a substantial 76.9% impact of various variables contributing to adaptation of E-procurement. The result indicates that all three-independent variable: Monopoly power, Information asymmetry, transparency & accountability are creating major resistance in implementation of E-procurement in the government organizations which are the major cause of corruption. This research provides valuable insights into enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of resources within the public sector. As one of the few studies on this topic, it serves as a foundational piece of literature that can guide future research and policymaking endeavors in Pakistan's public procurement landscape. Ultimately, the successful implementation of E-Procurement has the potential to transform how public funds are managed, ensuring greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency in public sector operations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Employing James Gee’s Analytic Lens for Identity to Investigate Teacher Identity Development

The current article is an exploration of the construction and development of teacher identities at the tertiary level in Pakistan. Identity is the sense of who one is as a professional, and it is becoming evident that it is important for teachers at all levels to develop a clear sense of identity as it leads to better practices and high level of commitment to the profession. The researcher adopted a constructivist stance for the investigation of identity and used data triangulation by using life histories, semi-structured interviews (based on the James Gee’s Lens for Identity) and fieldnotes as the sources of data. Six participants from urban tertiary institutions in various cities of Pakistan were selected and interviewed. The gathered data was analyzed iteratively through coding and contrastive analysis and highlighted the similarities and disparities of the various perspectives of identity; it was discovered that the participants had a better awareness and acceptance of their nature identity, whereas the institutional and discursive identities were the ones that posed conflict for them. The researcher also found that affinity identity was the weakest link in the Gee lens for teachers of Pakistan

Antimicrobial, hemolytic and thrombolytic activities of some new N-substituted-2-({5-[(1E,3E)F-4-(1,3-benzodioxol- 5-yl)-1,3-butadienyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}sulfanyl) propanamides

Purpose: To synthesize and evaluate the bioactivity of some N-substituted-2-({5-[(1E,3E)-4-(1,3- benzodioxol-5-yl)-1,3-butadienyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}sulfanyl)propanamides (9a-o) of the alkaloid piperine (1) extracted from P. nigrum (black pepper).Methods: Extract 1 was subjected to basic hydrolysis to obtain piperic acid (2). The heterocyclic 1,3,4- oxadiazole ring was synthesized from 2 through the formation of an ester and carbohydrazide. A series of electrophiles, 8a-o, were synthesized in the presence of 10 % Na2CO3. The final compounds, 9a-o, were synthesized by stirring 5-[(1E,3E)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1,3-butadienyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-thiol (5) and 8a-o in LiH/DMF. Spectral analysis was performed using infrared (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) to determine the structures of 9a-o. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated as zone of inhibition by disc diffusion method. Hemolytic and thrombolytic activities were determined by measuring absorbance before and after incubation of blood cells with test compound.Results: Compound 9d strongly inhibited Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with zone of inhibition values of 16 mm for each. The reference drug, rifampicin, showed zone of inhibition of 21 and 23 mm against B. subtilis and E. coli, respectively. Compound 9a strongly inhibited Aspergillus niger with a zone of inhibition of 18 mm compared to the reference drug, fluconazole, with a zone of inhibition of 19mm.Conclusion: The newly synthesized compounds are more active antimicrobial agents than piperine. Compounds 9a and 9d are the most active.Keywords: Piper nigrum, Piperine, Propanamide, Hemolytic, Thrombolytic, Black peppe

Biological movement of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Pakistan; A pioneer project of CEMB, Punjab, Pakistan

Background: In Asia, germ plasm exchange in different ecosystems, has been observed. This exchange causes movement of different pathogens. In present study, we worked on movement of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causing bacterial blight of rice. In 1976, this disease was first recorded from Punjab (Pakistan) but the cultivars of that time showed resistance against bacterial blight. Then in 1984, the disease was seen on IRRI9. Tremendous increase of this pathogen has become prevalent due to increase in demand of Basmati 385 (cultivar), and now it is one of the most important rice diseases in Pakistan. Hypothesis of present study is “there is genetic diversity of Xoo in different rice growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan.”Methods: By fingerprinting; the movement pattern of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae were searched out in present study. The IS1112; a repetitive element of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae was used to fingerprint twenty-one bacterial strains.Results: We compared local strains with that of provided by IRRI Philippine (International Rice Research Institute, Philippine). The obtained clusters were correlated with regional differentiation.Conclusion: Present reported work is the pioneer study (1998-2000) which clued the occurrence of regional movement of pathogen via germ plasm exchange. This study may also provide help to forensics to watch the bioterrorism.Keywords: Bacterial blight; Xanthomonas oryzae; Germ plasm; Genetic diversity; SAARC