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

Adoption of Recommended Varieties: A Farm-level Analysis of Wheat Growers in Irrigated Punjab

This study uses farm level data to analyse the determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties in irrigated Punjab, Pakistan. A notable proportion of wheat acreage is sown to non-recommended wheat varieties in the province. These cultivars had either lost (overtime) or did not have resistance against yellow rust. Farm size, education, and size of wheat enterprise on the farm are the important determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties while tractor ownership and irrigation source play a positive but insignificant role in the adoption decisions. Age and tenure proved to be less of a constraint towards adoption of the recommended wheat varieties. The likelihood of the adoption of recommended wheat varieties varied among tehsils, with the highest probabilities of adoption in Melsi and Arifwala tehsils of cotton-wheat zones I and II respectively.

Adoption of Recommended Varieties: A Farm level Analysis of Wheat Growers in Irrigated Punjab

This study uses farm level data to analyse the determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties in irrigated Punjab, Pakistan. A notable proportion of wheat acreage is sown to non-recommended wheat varieties in the province. These cultivars had either lost (overtime) or did not have resistance against yellow rust. Farm size, education, and size of wheat enterprise on the farm are the important determinants of adoption of recommended wheat varieties while tractor ownership and irrigation source play a positive but insignificant role in the adoption decisions. Age and tenure proved to be less of a constraint towards adoption of the recommended wheat varieties. The likelihood of the adoption of recommended wheat varieties varied among tehsils, with the highest probabilities of adoption in Melsi and Arifwala tehsils of cotton-wheat zones I and II respectively.Adoption; wheat varieties; Punjab; Pakistan

Digital revolution and fake news

HE digital revolution and its instantaneous short-term benefits have been celebrated and sold to mankind by peddlers of technology as a blessing in our march towards greater efficiency and productivity. This, it is argued, will fulfil our increasing lust for greater material rewards. What technopreneurs do not tell us is the negative effects of digital revolution. The negative effects include a black market in computerised extortion, the rise in depression and the spread of fake news. The spread of fake news is insidious because it can wreak havoc in our social and political lives. It is said that we are living in a post-truth era that is characterised by the eclipse of objective facts. Put in another away, in the post-truth era, objective facts will be less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. What is appalling about the rise of fake news is that we do not have the intellectual tools to differentiate truth from lies

Deciphering the 'othering' of Muslims

THE predominant Western view on Islam is very much informed by the orientalist discourse. In order to understand the “othering” of Muslims, we have to go back several centuries and situate the present state of affairs within the Western global/colonial designs. The relegation of Muslims as inferior in relation to the West began when Spain’s Christian monarchy, as one of Christian Europe’s frontiers with the Muslim world, fought a battle to conquer the Islamic side of Spain, better known as Al-Andalus. In 1492, when the Spanish Christian monarchy finally defeated the forces of Al-Andalus, they expelled Jews and Arabs not without its pogroms and massacres. From 1492 onwards, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim were defined on the basis of religious discrimination (praying to the wrong God). The Christian versus Islam struggle articulated the imperial difference, and historically, the expulsion of Arabs and Jews from Christian Spain in the name of “purity of blood” was a proto-racist process. With the onset of the colonial enterprise, however, a full racist perspective was put in motion, and the imperial powers started to characterise Muslims as “uncivilised” and “violent”

MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS BY MATRA VASTI WITH NIMBAMRATAPATOLADI GHRITA- A CASE REPORT

The ability of work of every individual is depends upon the ability of using his joints. Sandhigata vata is one such clinical entity among Vatavyadhis which affects the locomotion of senior citizens of this world in which Dhatukshaya is prime factor which is characterized by certain symptoms like joint stiffness, joint pain, swelling and difficulty of joint movement etc. In Ashtanga Hrudaya, Snehana is mentioned as one of the main treatments of Sandhigata vata. Moreover in Asthidhatugata vata, Bahya-abhyantara sneha is mentioned as treatment and Vastikarma occupies important place in treating Vatavyadhis. An observational study of 15 days in a sample of 15 cases was conducted. Diagnosed cases of Osteoarthritis (Sandhigata Vata) were selected for study from the outpatient unit of Aligarh Unani & Ayurvedic Medical College and ACN Hospital, Aligarh. Patients were selected at random irrespective of age, sex, Prakriti (constitution), Doshic (local humoral) and the joint involvement. Patients subjected to prior Deepana and Pachana procedures internally. It was followed by Matrabasti in with Nimbamratapatoladi Ghrita with constant dose of 60 ml till Vyadhishamana or maximum 2 weeks. Assessment was done before and after study and using structured proforma.Result and Conclusion: Out of 15 patients from 3 patients (20%) has shown complete remission, 6 patients (40%) have shown marked improvement. In 4 patients (26.66%) moderate improvement was found and 2 patients (13.34%) showed mild improvement. No patient remains unimproved

AN OPEN RANDOMISED CONTROL TRAIL TO EVALUATE THE LITHOTRIPTIC ACTION OF SHIGRU MULA KWATH ON UROLITHIASIS

Urolithiasis is a multifactorial disease that remains a significant health problem. It carries significant morbidity and imposes tremendous financial burden on healthcare system. A variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the incidence of disease. Management of urolithiasis depends on size and location of stone. Stone larger than 5 mm, which fails to pass through urinary system, should be treated by some interventional procedure such as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Ureteroscopy, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.Unfortunately the propensity for stone recurrence is not altered by removal of stone by these procedures and recurrence is still about 50% within 10 years. In addition these interventional procedures show some significant side effects. For prevention or recurrence of stone many herbal medicines have been traditionally used to treat kidney stones and have been shown to be effective. Acharya Vagbhatta has explained in Ashmari Chikitsa adhyaya that intake of lukewarm decoction of root of Moringa oleifera (Shigru) have lithotriptic action. Considering the above reference the present study was carried out to evaluate lithotriptic action of Moringa oleifera as it is cheap, easily available and palatable.Result & Conclusion: This study shows that Shigru Mula Kwath is as effective as compared to Varunadi Kwath, also Shigru Mula Kwath significantly helped to reduce the signs, symptoms and help to disintegrate the calculus. The prospective aspect of this study reveals that Shigru Mula Kwath can be used as lithotriptic, diuretic, alkalizer and analgesic to treat the Ashmari effectively

Economic Evaluation of Pesticide Use Externalities in the Cotton Zones of Punjab, Pakistan

The crop protection strategy in Pakistan is almost entirely based on pesticide use whereas development of integrated pest management (IPM) based technologies is in its initial phases of scrutiny as well as implementation. The inefficient use of chemicals has resulted in environmental pollution and sub-optimal returns to the society on the costly investments. This study estimates the social cost of pesticide use and suggests appropriate guidelines for regulating the safe use of pesticides. An overall economic evaluation of the externalities for the current pesticide use levels shows that external costs are quite higher than the currently paid price at the farm gate level. The environmental degradation and public health costs inflicted on the society due to the inefficient chemical use on cotton crop amounts to twelve thousand million rupees. The reduced reliance on crop protection through chemical methods seems inevitable for a sustainable and healthy crop production.economic evaluation; externalities; pesticide use; social cost; crop protection; Punjab; Pakistan