Estimated Export Demand and Supply Functions for Pakistan: A Disaggregated Analysis

This study estimates the impact of demand and supply side factors on the export performance of Pakistan. Using unrestricted autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for the period 1971 to 2015, the study analyzes export performance using data both at aggregate and disaggregate levels. The study finds, firstly, that exports are elastic to changes in world income and relative export price at the aggregate level. Secondly, at a disaggregate level, only exports of manufactured goods, leather and cotton cloth are elastic with respect to world income. Similarly, demand for all export categories is inelastic to changes in relative export price. On the supply side, exports at both aggregate and disaggregate levels are significantly elastic to changes in domestic production capacity and relative price. The study concludes that demand and supply side factors are equally important in explaining the export behavior at the aggregate level, whereas at a disaggregated level, the supply side factors exercise relatively high impact on export performance

Estimating the magnitude and correlates of poverty using consumption approach in Khyber Agency (FATA)

Poverty is an integral part of the human condition, though its existential aspects differ from culture to culture and from region to region.  As such, experts on the subject cannot reduce it to a single factor but focus on the forces which combine to cause the vicious cycle of poverty. The present study was used Poverty consumption approach to find out the incidence and correlates of poverty in Khyber Agency, Fata with a sample size of 110 households in its background. We have applied two different methods, poverty profile and an econometrics approach in our empirical analysis. According to the survey results, 48.1 % households are above and 51.9 % households are below poverty line. The depth and severity of poverty are 10.52% and 3.7% respectively. The results show that dependency ratio, persons per room, household size and age of head of the household have positively affected the level of poverty while household’ landholding, total assets of the household and earning members per household have negatively the incidence of poverty. The results of logistic model show that age of the households head, household size, household head is illiterate, household head is farmer, residence in kacha house was positively and significantly correlated with the probability being poor while households satisfaction with education facilities and household have members in abroad for income purpose are negatively and significantly correlated with the probability of being poor. Our final conclusion is that the people of the area may be introduced to new patterns of thinking to change their lives for the better. Awareness programs may be launched to prepare the new generation for the changes and challenges ahead.  In this regard, the women of the area may be educated and empowered to enable them to actively participate in income-generating activities on sustainable grounds. Keywords: Poverty, households, FATA, Pakista

Typologies of didactical strategies and teachers’ pedagogical beliefs : a theoretical review

Didactical strategies are one of the most influential vehicles that directly contribute to transforming knowledge. Varying types of didactical approaches are being adopted and implemented in the preparation of future teachers in the initial teacher education set up. The current conceptual paper is based on rigorous literature review on the typologies of didactical strategies adopted in the initial teacher education. The purpose of this conceptual and theoretical study is to evaluate and contrast varying didactical approaches while navigating through literature. The study also aims at exploring the interrelationship of didactical approaches with teacher cognitions i.e., teacher pedagogical beliefs. The methodology of this study based on the selection of six types of didactical strategies by Van De Grift (2007) and to compare and contrast them with other typologies available in literature and to explore the interrelationship with teachers’ pedagogical beliefs. The study concludes that the varying typologies of didactical strategies are being adopted and implemented in the ITE set up and these strategies have strong relationship with teacher’s pedagogical beliefs. The study recommends that the teachers’ cognitions i.e., teachers’ pedagogical beliefs may be included in the curriculum when preparing future teachers in the initial teacher education setting. These findings are substantial for policy makers, curriculum developers, head teachers, and other stakeholders in the initial teacher education

Term Back / Detention Policy Revision Measures in Academic Medical and Allied Institutions of Pakistan in the COVID-19 Epidemic for the Session 2019-2020

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) is the body concerned for the medical and dental education in Pakistan.1 The council was dissolved by an order of the President of Pakistan in October 2019, 2 but the order was revoked by the decision of the High Court of Pakistan.3 According to the PM&DC return/detention policy, a medical student has two chances of exam for his promotion in the next academic class and if one of the students could not pass the two chances provided in at least one of his subjects, the student must pass the exam in 3rd attempt with loss of his / her academic year and must pursue medical studies with the junior class. If one of these students could not pass this or these subjects by exceeding the 3rd chance, the conceded institution offers the 4th and last opportunity to the student.1 If the student still cannot pass the subject in 4th and last opportunity, he is expelled from the establishment with the cancellation of his admission, and the dreams of such a student to become a doctor are fulfilled until he will only be readmitted upon reappearing in the PM&DC competitive entrance test. But due to the sudden and unexpected outbreak of Covid-19, the medical community was the most affected. In some countries, more death rates have been reported among physicians who performed Covid-19 patient care tasks.4 Due to the lockdown policy of Govt. of Pakistan across the country, academic medical institutions were closed as a result of academic months of medical and dental students have also been wasted like other academic fields. The lockdown has been continued and we expect further academic waste from these students. The Pakistan Higher Education Commission has asked for conducting online courses for these students, but the clinical subjects of medical students cannot be taught online as they require direct clinical exposure to patients for the transmission of learning. required. Therefore, as a result of Covid-19, there is expected to be a waste of courses from almost all students across the country. However, in such circumstances, detained / term-back students will suffer a greater and irreparable waste of time as there may be many other technical difficulties regarding the continuation of medical education and the examinations of these students due to the Covid-19 disaster. Therefore, it may be good to revise the Term-Back / Detain policy for these medical, dental, and related students. The authors made the following suggestions for the PM&DC and the institutions to consider this review.         1) To Revise once the Term-Back / detention policy for the period 2019-2020 by allowing students to continue academic promotion during the next academic year with a unique relaxation in the policy.   2) Students who have not passed four chances and who are expelled from the establishment can be relaxed to have an additional chance to continue their medical studies, applicable for the year 2019-2020.   3) Relaxations are similar to those mentioned in the serial number. 1 and 2 for other courses such as Pharm-D, Bachelor of Nursing, etc.   Health workers are the main force in the fight against Covid-19 in the exercise of their functions to manage the patients of Covid-19. Mortality rates among healthcare providers have also been reported due to high viral load. There may be a shortage of health care providers around the world. Therefore, facilitation attempts are necessary to help the bona fide medical profession maintain their numbers and needs in the health sectors and to meet the future needs of the world for these health workers. Consequently, in implementing the suggestions of the authors, hundreds to thousands of health professionals and paramedical services will be able to save and secure their future in the service of the sacred mission of saving and serving the sick community

Impact of Ethical Leadership on Task Performance and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Moderating Role of Islamic Work Ethics

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of ethical leadership on task performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), with the boundary condition of Islamic work ethics (IWE). Data were collected from 200 employees working in the public and private sector organizations in Islamabad, Pakistan. The data were analyzed through SPSS. The collected data revealed that ethical leadership has a positive and significant influence on task performance and OCB. Furthermore, IWE was also found a significant moderator by enhancing the relationship of ethical leadership and both the outcome variables. It concluded that ethical leadership sets the tone for the employees for improving their task performance and OCB. Additionally, Islamic work ethics can also enhance the positive outcomes of ethical leadership.&nbsp

Transnational Education: Concepts And Methods

ABSTRACT Transnational education is a new and permanent reality in educational life. It should be viewed as a positive set of educational opportunities. It raises profound and farreaching implications for all those involved in higher education. The challenges represented by it may impact at the local, regional, national and global levels and reactions to these multi-level challenges result in a co-ordinated set of global responses in the form of alliances. The globalisation of higher education manifests itself in various forms, of which transnational education is perhaps the most visible. It is something that can be focussed immensely for global pace. Transnational education has clear long-term implications for the nature and structure of educational provision throughout the world particularly in Europe