EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IN PAKISTAN: EVIDENCE FROM STATISTICAL EXPERIENCE

Why privatization processes fall short to deliver expected result in Pakistan. To answer this question, current study aims is to examine the privatization process in the Pakistan. The privatization process is dividing into four sections, privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets evaluation and the factors affecting the development after privatization. The main objective of the study is to see the influence of development after privatization on the relationship between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement. Detailed survey based on the structured questionnaire is enquired through random sampling technique. Structured Equation Model (SEM) has been used for making an analysis. The finding of the study concludes that development process privatization mediates the between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement.  The findings of the study advocate that the privatization policy, buyer selection process, assets evaluation methods must be in line with the objective of government and line ministry. This effort may help for getting the optimum level of result from privatization process

EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IN PAKISTAN: EVIDENCE FROM STATISTICAL EXPERIENCE

Why privatization processes fall short to deliver expected result in Pakistan. To answer this question, current study aims is to examine the privatization process in the Pakistan. The privatization process is dividing into four sections, privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets evaluation and the factors affecting the development after privatization. The main objective of the study is to see the influence of development after privatization on the relationship between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement. Detailed survey based on the structured questionnaire is enquired through random sampling technique. Structured Equation Model (SEM) has been used for making an analysis. The finding of the study concludes that development process privatization mediates the between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement.  The findings of the study advocate that the privatization policy, buyer selection process, assets evaluation methods must be in line with the objective of government and line ministry. This effort may help for getting the optimum level of result from privatization process

Large sharing networks and unusual injection practices explain the rapid rise in HIV among IDUs in Sargodha, Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Of the nearly 100,000 street-based IDUs in Pakistan, 20% have HIV. We investigated the recent rise in HIV prevalence from 12 to 52% among IDUs in Sargodha despite > 70% coverage with syringe exchanges.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed approximately 150 IDUs and 30 outreach workers in focus group discussions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found six rural and 28 urban injecting locations. Urban locations have about 20–30 people at any time and about 100 daily; rural locations have twice as many (national average: 4–15). About half of the IDUs started injecting within the past 2 years and are not proficient at injecting themselves. They use street injectors, who have 15–16 clients daily. Heroin is almost exclusively the drug used. Most inject 5–7 times daily.</p> <p>Nearly all injectors claim to use fresh syringes. However, they load, inject and share using a locally developed method called scale. Most Pakistani IDUs prefer to double pump drug the syringe, which allows mixing of blood with drug in the syringe. The injector injects 3 ml and keeps 2 ml (the scale) as injection fee. The injector usually pools all the leftover scale (now with some blood mixed with drug) either for his own use or to sell it. Most IDUs backload the scale they buy into their own fresh syringes.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Use of an unprecedented method of injecting drugs that largely bypasses fresh syringes, larger size of sharing networks, higher injection frequency and near universal use of street injectors likely explain for the rapid rise in HIV prevalence among IDUs in Sargodha despite high level provision of fresh syringes. This had been missed by us and the national surveillance, which is quantitative. We have addressed this by hiring injectors as peer outreach workers and increasing syringe supply. Our findings highlight both the importance of qualitative research and operations research to enrich the quality of HIV prevention programs.</p

Factors Affecting Investment Decision Making of Equity Fund Managers

Traditional theories of finance assume that investors use all available information and make rational investment decision but in reality the scenario is different. Based upon the growing importance of behavioral finance the present study is an attempt to investigate the effect of behavioral factors such as heuristics, risk aversion, use of financial tools and firm level corporate governance on the decision making of equity fund managers of Pakistan. The study collected response from 327 equity fund managers of insurance companies, commercial banks, and equity investment companies applying stratified random sampling technique. The results of the study demonstrate that a positive and significant relationship exist among heuristics, use of financial tools, risk aversion, firm-level corporate governance, and investment decision making. The results further demonstrate that firm-level corporate governance plays a pivotal role and is an important factor affecting investment decision making. Equity fund managers of institutions apply heuristics and financial tools while formulating their decisions. Equity fund managers of institutions are also found to be risk averse. Regulatory authorities and stock exchanges may use the results of the study. Regulatory authorities and exchanges may also use the results to create awareness by educating investors about the importance of behavioral factor and firm-level corporate governance. It may help to increase investors’ confidence

Factors Affecting Investment Decision Making of Equity Fund Managers

Traditional theories of finance assume that investors use all available information and make rational investment decision but in reality the scenario is different. Based upon the growing importance of behavioral finance the present study is an attempt to investigate the effect of behavioral factors such as heuristics, risk aversion, use of financial tools and firm level corporate governance on the decision making of equity fund managers of Pakistan. The study collected response from 327 equity fund managers of insurance companies, commercial banks, and equity investment companies applying stratified random sampling technique. The results of the study demonstrate that a positive and significant relationship exist among heuristics, use of financial tools, risk aversion, firm-level corporate governance, and investment decision making. The results further demonstrate that firm-level corporate governance plays a pivotal role and is an important factor affecting investment decision making. Equity fund managers of institutions apply heuristics and financial tools while formulating their decisions. Equity fund managers of institutions are also found to be risk averse. Regulatory authorities and stock exchanges may use the results of the study. Regulatory authorities and exchanges may also use the results to create awareness by educating investors about the importance of behavioral factor and firm-level corporate governance. It may help to increase investors’ confidence

Predictors of Acute Stent Thrombosis After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

OBJECTIVES To identify the specific predictors of acute stent thrombosis in patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.METHODOLOGY This retrospective study was carried out at the Department of Cardiology Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1st January to 30th June 2022. All consecutive patients with an angiographically confirmed stent thrombosis were enrolled. Patients gave informed consent for the inclusion of data in this registry. Stent thrombosis was categorized according to the timing of the event as acute (occurrence within the first 24 hours after the index procedure).RESULTSA total of 400 patients were included in the study. Age ranged between 35-70 years, with a mean age of 52.5. There were 260(65%) males and 140(35%) females, with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. All patients underwent primary PCI with stent implantation. According to the elapsed time since stent implantation, 42(10.5%) patients presented with acute stent thrombosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The mean time to develop acute stent thrombosis after primary PCI was ±4.5 hours (range 3-6 hours). In most STEMI patients, 340(85%) received a loading dose of clopidogrel at the time of the index PCI. In 23(54.7%) patients, acute stent thrombosis occurred within 6 hours, 10(23.8%) within 12 hours, 6(14.2%) within 18 hours and 3(7.1%) after clopidogrel loading.CONCLUSIONInadequate stent expansion or mal-opposition, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and female gender were the strong predictors of acute stent thrombosis

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy