Skill Formation Strategies for Sustaining 'The Drive to Maturity' in Pakistan.

This paper outlines some problems in the articulation of a national skill formation strategy seeking to sustain ‘the drive to maturity’ of the Pakistan economy. We examine the thought of two economists—Adam Smith and Amartya Sen—to identify market-, society-, and state-related skills that they theorise as necessary for sustaining an economy’s ‘drive to maturity’. We then briefly outline Michel Foucault’s social theory to contextualise these skill formation paradigms within the institutional structure characteristic of mature capitalism. We argue that integration within global capitalist order leaves little room for the articulation of such a skill formation national strategy. Pakistan is therefore likely to share the fate of the majority of the under-developed countries which are experiencing de-skilling and detechonolgising

Skill Formation Strategies for Sustaining ‘The Drive to Maturity’ in Pakistan

Skill formation is a multi-faceted process. Skills are necessarily (by definition) instrumental—i.e. means for the achievement of a metaphysically defined objective. In Modernity,1 this metaphysical presupposed ‘rational’ purpose of existence (both individual and societal) is freedom [Kant (2001)]. In the history of Modernity, the primary source of the growth of freedom has been capital accumulation.2 A nation committed to Modernity (‘Enlightened Moderation’) is necessarily committed to articulating a skill formation strategy which can transform ‘human being’ into ‘human capital’. This transformation requires three distinct types of skills: individual, communitarian and political. This is because capitalism is not just a ‘lifeworld’ in the Habermasian sense but a system [Foucault (1976)]. Capitalist individuality requires a prioritisation of the preference for preference itself (‘choice’) over all preferences. This is necessary for the internalisation of capitalist norms (the commitment to profit/utility maximisation and competition to achieve this end). Capitalist individuality must also posses the skills which allow it to rationally identify and pursue its interest in the market and in the firm. It must also have the selfdiscipline to function as a diligent and co-operative participant in the capitalist work process

Governing the Labour Market: The Impossibility of Corporatist Reforms

This paper argues that a return to corporatist governance structures is impossible in Pakistan. Section 1 outlines neo-classical labour market regulation rationalities presented by Hayek, Wieser, and Sen. Section 2 compares and contrasts Fordist and Post-Fordist modes of labour market regulation. And Section 3 seeks to establish the impossibility of institutionalising corporatist governance structures in the labour markets of Pakistan. Neo-classical theory sees relations between labour and the representatives of capital (‘managers’) as relations created spontaneously by individuals in the pursuit of their rational self-interest. The capitalist individual, be he labourer or manager, defines ‘maximisation of utility’ as his ‘rational self interest’, and order within the labour market requires a reconciliation of individual (the labourer’s) and aggregate (the manager’s) utility maximisation (with aggregate utility maximisation being represented by shareholders value). Labour market order is thus impeded if

Surgical Outcome of Microvascular Decompression for Trigerminal Neuralgia in Terms of Pain Control Using Visual Analogue Scale

Objective:  The aim of conducting this study was to evaluate the outcome of a Micro vascular Decompression procedure for the definitive treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia in our setup. Material and Methods:  This observational prospective study was carried out in Neurosurgery unit Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. A total of 50 patients operated for micro vascular decompression surgeries were enrolled in the study, both genders and any age were in inclusion criteria. Patients previously operated for trigeminal neuralgia were excluded from the study. Post operatively all patients were followed for 1year to calculate the outcome in terms of pain control using visual analogue score (VAS). Immediate pain relief during the first post-operative week and trigeminal neuralgia pain at 1 year post op were recorded and  graded into three categories based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) such as Excellent: 0-2 , Good: 3-6, Fail/Poor: 7 – 10. Results:  50 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 22 were male & 28 were female with an age range from 42-78 years. Average duration of disease was 5 years. In 30 patients, clinically v2-v3 were predominantly involved, in remaining 14 patient v1-v2 were involved & only in 6 patients all three branches were involved. Among all operated 50 patients 18(36%) had excellent pain relief, 26 (52%) had good pain relief & 6 (12%) had fail/poor pain relief. Conclusion:  From this data it was concluded that micro vascular decompression is an effective surgical procedure in relieving pain of trigeminal neuralgia in patients who are refractive to medical treatment

Welfare of Pet Birds and Potential Zoonoses

The human-animal interaction had long been established and currently emerged in multiple aspects including housing of animals for food and as pets. The “pet birds” are the wild or exotic birds having high genetic value and are housed under captivity as companions or for ornamental purposes. The commonly housed pet birds are either passeriformes or psittaciformes. These birds are housed under conditions to meet standard requirements for welfare of pet birds. Besides the pet birds and human relationship, these birds are potential carriers or transmitters of several pathogens considered responsible for zoonotic diseases. The range of the zoonotic diseases consisted of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal diseases. The mode of transmission is also an important entity for understanding the spread mechanism of zoonotic diseases. The transmission and spread is predominantly through the direct contact and in the few conditions through the vectors; termed as vector-borne transmission. Altogether, in this chapter, the authors have discussed different aspects of welfare of pet birds, categories of zoonotic diseases along with mode of transmission and spread of zoonoses. At the last, few aspects of welfare of pet birds and prevention and control guidelines of zoonoses are suggested for the personal biosafety and public health

Manifestation of Mobile Phone Assisted Personal Agency among University Students: Evidence from Lahore

The study was carried out to explore the manifestation of mobile phone assisted personal agency among university students. Personal Agency of Mobile Phone Users Scale was adapted to measure the practice of personal agency. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 401 university students in Lahore. Findings of the study indicated three constituents of personal agency among youth; contactability, organizability and derestriction. Furthermore, duration of the possession of mobile phone was found significantly correlated with the practice of mobile phone assisted personal agency. Respondents reported that mobile phone has conferred upon them a sense of individual freedom and social connectedness. It has helped them to organize their daily activities. According to them, this electronic gadget has enabling effect and it enlivened their lives through its beeps and bells. The findings of the study are aligned with the results of D’Souza (2010) who did the pioneering study in exploring personal agency through mobile phone use. However, further research is required to explore the impact of mobile phone use on the lives of youth who have not been enrolled in the universities.&nbsp

Comparative Risk of Surgical Site Infection With Open Cholecystectomy Vs Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the risk of surgical site infection with open vs laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODOLOGY: This randomized control trial was done at the Department of Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, for 12 months from 11/5/2018 to 11/5/2019. 116 patients were recruited for this study, 58 for each group randomly allocated to a group by lottery method and concealed Allocation. Patients in Group A underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, while patients in group B underwent open cholecystectomy. According to ward protocol, post-operative analgesia & antibiotics were given to patients in both groups. Expert consultant general surgeons did all the evaluation & procedures; all the patients were followed up to 30 days after the procedure & any surgical site infections, if found, were noted. RESULTS: The mean age was 36 years ± 12.19 SD and 38 years ± 11.88 SD in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, respectively. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 28% of patients were male, and 72% of patients were female, while in open cholecystectomy, 29% of patients were male, and 71% of patients were female. 07% of laparoscopic and 26% of open cholecystectomy patients had surgical site infections.  CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that the frequency of surgical site infection was found less in laparoscopic cholecystectomy than in open cholecystectomy

Impediments Of Green Marketing In Pakistan

This study investigates different factors and the impact of these factors on adoption of green marketing in Pakistan. Motivational factors which are legislation, competitiveness, and ethical reasoning. Company features in which company size, internationalization, position in value chain, managerial attitude, and strategic attitude fall. Some external factors like geographical location and industrial factors also have effects on green marketing adoption. The last factor in our study is stakeholder’s pressure. it also identify that why companies not adopt green marketing and what are the benefits companies are gaining by implementing green marketing in their organization. Our research is qualitative so we have conducted detail interviews from the three organizations of Faisalabad and after that we are able to find out the reasons that why companies hesitate to adopt green marketing. Major reason of adoption of green marketing that the study has explored is the pressure of big stores and big brands on the subcontractors that they have to provide them the green products. The reason of non-adoption of green marketing is unawareness among people about green marketing and Government also not taking any kind of steps to motivate or to force the organization toward adoption of green marketing in Pakistan

Impediments Of Green Marketing In Pakistan

This study investigates different factors and the impact of these factors on adoption of green marketing in Pakistan. Motivational factors which are legislation, competitiveness, and ethical reasoning. Company features in which company size, internationalization, position in value chain, managerial attitude, and strategic attitude fall. Some external factors like geographical location and industrial factors also have effects on green marketing adoption. The last factor in our study is stakeholder’s pressure. it also identify that why companies not adopt green marketing and what are the benefits companies are gaining by implementing green marketing in their organization. Our research is qualitative so we have conducted detail interviews from the three organizations of Faisalabad and after that we are able to find out the reasons that why companies hesitate to adopt green marketing. Major reason of adoption of green marketing that the study has explored is the pressure of big stores and big brands on the subcontractors that they have to provide them the green products. The reason of non-adoption of green marketing is unawareness among people about green marketing and Government also not taking any kind of steps to motivate or to force the organization toward adoption of green marketing in Pakistan

Genomic characterization of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolated from domestic chickens in Pakistan

Poultry husbandry is important for the economic health of Pakistan, but the Pakistani poultry industry is negatively impacted by infections fro