Export, Import and Total Trade Potential of Pakistan: A Gravity Model Approach

This paper aims to find export, import and total trade determinants and potential of Pakistan by using augmented gravity model. Panel data for the period ranging from 2000 to 2013 across 38 countries has been used for analysis. The results obtained from gravity model confirms that export and import determinants are different from total trade determinants. Similarly, export and import potentials of Pakistan are different from total trade determinants. Pakistan has highest trade potential with Norway and Hungry while for exports the highest potential exist with Switzerland and Hungry and in case of imports Pakistan has highest potential with Norway followed by Philippines, Portugal and Greece. Border sharing countries offer lower transportation cost due to minimum distance as compared to non-border sharing countries. China and India are two major border sharing countries but only with China, Pakistan has exhausted its trade potential (both export and import potential)

Export Performance with Border Sharing Countries: An Assessment of Pakistan

This study analyzed the export performance of Pakistan with its border sharing countries for the year 2014. The study has followed Dalum et al. (1998) revealed symmetric comparative advantage index to measure export performance. The study has split the analysis into highest and marginal comparative advantage and disadvantage. Pakistan is exporting around 160, 155, 133 and 60 commodities at three-digit level of SITC (Rev 3) classification to Afghanistan, China, India and Iran respectively. We found that in more than half of these commodities exported to border sharing countries Pakistan has highest and marginal comparative disadvantage. Result shows that rice and cotton is of worth importance because both are cash crops of Pakistan. Rice is in marginal disadvantage segment for Afghanistan, China and Iran. Political and diplomatic channels are needed to improve the performance of cross border trading among the countries especially with border sharing countries

Export Performance with Border Sharing Countries: An Assessment of Pakistan

This study analyzed the export performance of Pakistan with its border sharing countries for the year 2014. The study has followed Dalum et al. (1998) revealed symmetric comparative advantage index to measure export performance. The study has split the analysis into highest and marginal comparative advantage and disadvantage. Pakistan is exporting around 160, 155, 133 and 60 commodities at three-digit level of SITC (Rev 3) classification to Afghanistan, China, India and Iran respectively. We found that in more than half of these commodities exported to border sharing countries Pakistan has highest and marginal comparative disadvantage. Result shows that rice and cotton is of worth importance because both are cash crops of Pakistan. Rice is in marginal disadvantage segment for Afghanistan, China and Iran. Political and diplomatic channels are needed to improve the performance of cross border trading among the countries especially with border sharing countries

Are Some Taxes Better for Growth in Pakistan?A Time Series Analysis

This study analyzed the impact of taxes on economic growth of Pakistan for the period 1976 to 2014. The study has disaggregated taxes into direct and indirect tax. Indirect tax has further disaggregated into five categories (excise duty, sales tax, surcharges, tax on international trade and other taxes). By applying autoregressive distributive lag framework, study confirmed the existence of long run relationship between taxes and real GDP of Pakistan. Results indicate that in the long run direct tax, taxes on international trade, sales tax and other indirect taxes has positive and significant impact on real GDP. However, in the short run sales tax, tax on international trade and other tax have positive relationship, while excise duty has negative relation with real GDP of Pakistan. The results confirmed that direct tax, sales tax and tax on international trade are pro-growth taxes. Government should increase direct taxes as they have positive and significant impact on economic growth in the long run

Export, Import and Total Trade Potential of Pakistan: A Gravity Model Approach

This paper aims to find export, import and total trade determinants and potential of Pakistan by using augmented gravity model. Panel data for the period ranging from 2000 to 2013 across 38 countries has been used for analysis. The results obtained from gravity model confirms that export and import determinants are different from total trade determinants. Similarly, export and import potentials of Pakistan are different from total trade determinants. Pakistan has highest trade potential with Norway and Hungry while for exports the highest potential exist with Switzerland and Hungry and in case of imports Pakistan has highest potential with Norway followed by Philippines, Portugal and Greece. Border sharing countries offer lower transportation cost due to minimum distance as compared to non-border sharing countries. China and India are two major border sharing countries but only with China, Pakistan has exhausted its trade potential (both export and import potential)

Assessing the Environment, Regulation, and Selected Problems of Securities Markets: A Comparison of the United Kingdom with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

The main objective of this thesis is to review, contrast and compare some of the key equity market regulations emanating from the United Kingdom, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The thesis has researched several key themes in each of these markets in an attempt to pinpoint the key regulatory frameworks that are either lacking or under-represented with specific relevance to KSA and the UAE. The thesis has studied disclosure & transparency issues in the three chosen jurisdictions as well as the role played by the capital market regulator in each of them. This study intends to provide a regulatory analysis to influence those regulations that should be implemented to adjust market practices as they affect the Saudi and the UAE capital markets. The capital market regulations and rules passed by the governments in these countries are instrumental in the overall direction that a market takes. The thesis examines the role of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) compared to that of Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority (CMA) and the United Arab Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). The research has found that key financial regulations such as those relating to market abuse, market conduct, transparency and corporate governance must be cognizant of the norms of the nation in which they apply. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia and to a larger extent, the UAE, have successfully emulated some of the key rules and regulations enacted in the UK to boost and build investor confidence. Having researched the rules and regulations in both Saudi and the UAE, the thesis finds that any perceived or actual lack of prevention of violations may be related to the financial authorities lack of intervention. Regulators in the GCC do not appear to move as swiftly nor take the necessary preventative measures as the UK's FCA does. With this in mind, the thesis concludes with recommendations including the reforms of capital market regulations in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and with particular emphasis on transparency and disclosure, corporate governance and market abuse practices as well as the eventual adoption of the Twin Peaks model of regulatory reform which was recently championed by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK

The Multi-Layered Minority: Exploring the Intersection of Gender, Class and Religious-Ethnic Affiliation in the Marginalisation of Hazara Women in Pakistan

The Shia Hazaras in Pakistan are one of the most persecuted religious minorities. According to a 2019 report produced by the National Commission for Human Rights, a government formed commission, at least 509 Hazaras have been killed since 2013 (NCHR 2018: 2). According to one of the Vice Chairs of the Human Rights Commission Pakistan, the country's leading human rights watchdog, between 2009 and 2014, nearly 1,000 Hazaras were killed in sectarian violence (Butt 2014). The present population of Shia Hazaras is the result of three historical migrations from Afghanistan (Hashmi 2016: 2). The first phase of migration occurred in 1880 1901 when Abd al Rahman Khan came to power in 1880 in Afghanistan and declared war against the Hazaras as a result of a series of revolts they made against the regime.Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Essential Oils: Partnering with Antibiotics

Essential oils (EO) are volatile, non-lipid-based oils produced as a plant defense mechanism. Studies from our group have validated the potential usefulness of EOs to synergistically and additively work with antibiotics. In this book chapter, we aim to outline some background on the EOs and their uses and applications, to discuss the different mechanisms of action in partnering with antibiotics, and, finally, to explore their potential use against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Applications of EO in therapy will enable the revival of previously sidelined antibiotics and enhance the development of new drug regimens to better mitigate what may be the biggest health challenge by year 2050

Study on the morphology of polyacrylamide – silica fumed nanocomposite thin films

Silica fumed nanoparticles were dispersed in polyacrylamide thin films by direct mixing. Atomic Force Microscopy study was carried out in order to analyze the surface roughness. Height distribution of surface roughness changes from Gaussian like for polyacrylamide to skew asymmetric when increasing the silica concentration. The length of the distribution tail increases, indicating the formation of multi-scale features that increase in number and size, as the silica increase.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the German research foundation (DFG), French academy of sciences and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Philippe Meyer and the Meyer Foundation