Impact of trade openness on output growth for Pakistan: an empirical investigation

In this paper we analyze the impact of trade liberalization policy on GDP growth of Pakistan for the period ranging from 1972 to 2002. We found that there is long run negative relationship between trade growth and GDP growth. When we separate the total trade volume in export and import we find insignificant positive relationship between GDP and export and import. Both the models showed positive and significant relationship between GDP and investment.Trade Openness; Liberalization

Trade Openness and Growth: An Analysis of Transmission Mechanism in Pakistan

This paper investigates the linkages between trade policy openness and economic growth for Pakistan for the period 1973 to 2008. The paper tests the hypothesis that trade policy does not affect economic growth directly rather it affects through some growth determining economic variables, which then effect economic growth. For this purpose a simultaneous system of equations is estimated through the Three Stage Least Squares. The results suggest a positive impact of trade policy openness on Black Market Premium, Domestic Investment and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and negative impact on Macro Policy Index. However, Black Market Premium and FDI show negative and Domestic Investment shows positive impact on economic growth.Openness, Growth, Transmission Mechanism, Pakistan

Transforming rural primary schools: case for community centred approach

India has the exceptional achievement of having a primary school (class I-V) within one kilometer in 98 percent of its habitations. Access to physical infrastructure is matched in official records with enrolment in excess of 96 percent. But the good progress on getting rural children to schools is, however, substantially lost with low retention and insufficient learning levels, restricting opportunities for their future lives as citizens, parents and contributing members of the economy. ASER 1 2016 shows that 27 percent of all children in Std. VIII were unable to read a Std II level text, almost 57 percent were unable to solve a 3-digit by 1-digit division sum. The proportion of children in Class III who are able to read at least Class I level is barely 42.5 percent. Transforming Rural India (TRI) baselines focused on rural primary schools across 17 districts in east-central India showed even poorer results. Further, it found rural schools are rarely open for full school hours, on an average we have 25 percent regular teachers and 25 percent untrained ‘guest’ teachers and almost 50 percent vacancy. It is not a surprise that parents are pulling their children out of government schools: these are truly worrying statistics. Our schools are failing to equip children with basic skills and setting stagnation in inter- generational mobility. In rural schools, the majority of children are first time learners and, with over half of the parents never having been to school, their aspirations from schooling includes support in furthering family advancement. Thus, the social cost of this systematic neglect of rural schools includes the family and the community

CONCEPTUALIZING HUMOR IN ADVERTISING: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SELF-MONITORING

This research paper explores the mediating role of attitudetowards the advertisement and attitude towards the brand, andmoderating role of self-monitoring in the relationships betweenperceived humor in the advertisement and purchase intention of the customer. Survey data was collected from 209 individuals after showing advertisements. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and macro developed by Preacher and Hays have been used to test moderation and mediation effect in the hypothesized model. A good fit between the data and tested model was observed. As predicted, purchase intention was positively related to perceived humor and full mediation effect has been found. The moderating role of self-monitoring has also been supported by the data. The findings are particularly salient for national and multinational media agenciesin Pakistan as well in the other parts of the world

Complications of in-patient cerebral angiography: Comparison between patients with and without sub arachnoid haemorrhage

Objective: To compare complications of cerebral angiography among patients with and without subarachnoid haemorrhage.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised records of patients undergoing inpatient therapeutic and diagnostic cerebral angiographies from 2001 to 2010. The patients were divided into subarachnoid and non-subarachnoid haemorrhage groups. During the study period no modifications were made to the operational protocol and all patients were subjected to the same procedure and prophylactic care.Results: Of the 93 patients, 42(45.2%) were women and 51(54.8%) were men. The overall mean age was 45.27±16.15 years (range: 4-80 years). The comparison between the two groups regarding new onset of neurological deficit was statistically significant (p=0.001). However, the same comparison regarding drop in Glasgow Coma Scale was statistically not significant (p=0.073).Conclusions: The rate of neurological complications was higher in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage

Dengue fever with hepatitis E and hepatitis A infection

Infection with dengue viruses produces a spectrum of clinical illness ranging from a nonspecific viral syndrome to severe and fatal haemorrhagic disease. Important risk factors include the strain and serotype of the infecting virus, as well as the age, immune status, and genetic predisposition of the patient. The teaching point in this case study was Dengue fever which occurred concomitantly with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E virus infection

Schistomeringos japonica (Family Dorvilleidae) – A new record of polychaete from Pakistani coast

485-487A marine polychaete worm, of the genus Schistomeringos Jumars, 1974, is hereby reported for the first time from the coasts of Pakistan. Several specimens of Schistomeringos japonica (Annenkova, 1937) were collected from settlement panels deployed at Korangi Fish Harbour (24˚48´8.34˝ N; 67˚17´60˝ E), Karachi, Pakistani coast. S. japonica is closely related to S. rudolphi (Delle Chiaje, 1828) but differs in having furcate chaeta from the first, not the second, pair of parapodia. S. rudolphi has been reported from the Red Sea. Detailed description and illustrations of S. japonica, based on Pakistani materials, are given herein