Technology-Based English Language Instruction in Pakistan: An Empirical Review

English language teaching has advanced greatly because of the incorporation of modern technology. Electronic teaching systems have positive effects on student engagement and English language acquisition. The vast majority of modern English language teachers make use of some form of technology help in the classroom. The present study addresses various aspects of technology used in English education in Pakistan by building creative curriculum that utilizes contemporary scientific and technical advancements, educating instructors with technological skills to ensure effective and quality topic delivery, and creating student-teacher platforms that optimize positive language learning results. This research combed the appropriate literature for definitions of technology in both contemporary and historical contexts, then connected these definitions with effective pedagogical practices. In light of this, the researcher presents a definition of the study\u27s central topic, an explanation of the study\u27s aims and hypotheses, and the study\u27s results. The paper concludes with a list of suggestions for furthering the implementation of modern technologies in academic settings. &nbsp

Analyzing the Role of Language and Religion in Culturally Competent Healthcare: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

Cultural competence in healthcare refers to the ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver healthcare services that meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of patients. The current interdisciplinary approach aims to elucidate the critical roles of language and religion in healthcare, focusing on their impact on communication, patient satisfaction, health literacy, and cultural competence in healthcare delivery. Through meticulous analysis of academic databases, health organization reports, and religious institution publications, this literature review consolidates findings from few peer-reviewed articles published in English. Findings reveal that effective healthcare communication is significantly hampered by language barriers, leading to risks of misdiagnoses, improper treatments, and diminished patient satisfaction. The review highlights the indispensable roles of language and religious competence in healthcare, advocating for their integration into healthcare practice, education, and policy to enhance the quality and cultural competence of healthcare delivery for diverse patient populations. Future research should continue to explore and expand on these findings, contributing to the development of practical strategies and theoretical frameworks supporting culturally competent healthcare

Corporate Governance and Financing Dicisions of Listed Firms in Pakistan

The purpose of the study is to explore the link between corporate governance mechanisms and firms financing decisions. We have selected 24 banks which were listed on the “Karachi Stock Exchange”, during the period of 2008-2012. The Ownership Concentration, composition and size of the board, and role duality were considered as independent corporate governance variables while firm specific control variables were size, liquidity, profitability and tangibility of assets. Debt ratio is taken as a dependent variable representing firm’s financing decision (capital structure). The results indicate that Ownership Concentration, Size of the board, and leverage are positively correlated. However no significant relationship was found between Board composition, CEO duality and capital structure. We use panal least square regression to determine the affect of corporate governance and firm level characteristics on capital structure. Keywords: Banking Sector, Capital Structure, Corporate Governanc

Factors Affecting the Demand Side of Exports: Pakistan Evidence

The aim of this article is to investigate different factors affecting the demand of Pakistani exports. Factors affecting the demand of exports include real effective exchange rate, nominal exchange rate, world production capability and world export price variable. The period of the study is from 1990 to 2010. Data is gathered from various sources including State Bank of Pakistan, Karachi Stock Exchange, Handbook of statistics on Pakistan Economy, Economic Survey of Pakistan and International Financial Statistics (IFS). Two Stage Least Square (2-SLS) Method was applied in the study.  Results show that, export demand decreases with increase in Real Effective Exchange Rate. Insignificant relationship was found between the demand of Pakistani exports and export price variable and nominal exchange rate. The study also found positive and significant association between the demand of Pakistani export and World Income. Keywords: Export Growth, Foreign Direct Investment, Two Stage Least Square JEL Classifications: F13, F14, O1

How Firm Characteristics Affect Capital Structure in Banking and Insurance Sectors (The Case of Pakistan)

The paper provides further evidence of the capital structure theories pertaining to a developing country and tests the determinants of capital structure for the firms in the banking and insurance sectors of Pakistan, to find that financial pattern of firms in the two sectors follow which capital structure theory. We have found that both the Pecking order theory and Trade-off theory are pertinent theories to the companies’ capital structure in the two sectors, whereas there was little evidence to support the Agency cost theory. The sample consists of 22 banks and 24 insurance companies listed in the, "Karachi Stock Exchange", during 2002-2009. The research was conducted using secondary data sourced from the company’s annual reports and Karachi Stock Exchange. The variable debt ratio (leverage) was the dependent variable. While the explanatory variables were size, growth, liquidity, profitability, non-debt tax shield and tangibility of assets. We have used panal least square regression to determine the affect of firm level characteristics on capital structure. The variables profitability and liquidity were found to have negative impact on debt ratio, while size and growth were positively correlated. Whereas, tangibility has direct positive correlation with leverage in insurance sector but negative in banking sector. Keywords: capital structure, firm characteristics, KSE, pecking order theory, agency cost theory, trade-off theory

Internal Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Agency Cost: Evidence from Large KSE Listed Firms

The purpose of the study is to analyze various corporate governance mechanisms that reduce agency cost. For the period 2003-2010 we have selected 120 firms on the basis of market capitalization listed on the “Karachi Stock Exchange”. We used two proxies’ asset utilisation and asset liquidity ratios to measure agency cost. A higher asset utilization ratio means lower agency cost whereas a higher asset liquidity ratio means higher agency costs. Board and committee activities, board size, CEO/Chair duality, CEO tenure, %Block ownership, %largest investor and debt financing are used as independent variables. The result shows that variables board and audit committee activities and asset utilisation ratio has strong positive correlation. However block ownership, board size, duality and asset utilization ratio appears to have negative correlation. When we use asset liquidity ratio as the dependent variable agency cost is reduced with frequent board meetings. The variables board size and CEO tenure has positive correlation with asset liquidity ratio. Block ownership and asset liquidity ratio has negative association. Furthermore variables duality, debt financing and largest investor has insignificant relation with asset liquidity ratio. Keywords: Asset Utilization Ratio, Asset Liquidity Ratio, Corporate Governance

Ketokohan dan Pemikiran Dakwah Tuan Haji Yusof Rawa (1922 – 2000) di Malaysia

Abstract: Article with the title 'Characteristics and Thought of Mr. Haji Yusof Rawa's Da'wah (1922 - 2000) in Malaysia', this aims to describe and analyze the character and thoughts of al-marhum Mr. Haji Yusof Rawa in the field of Islamic da'wah. It starts by highlighting his background in figures and goes on to talk about his Islamic da'wah thoughts. The method used in this study uses a library research method or approach. Literature study can be interpreted as a series of activities relating to the method of collecting library data, reading and recording and processing research material. The findings of this study indicate the role of this figure in controlling the age of the old order transition to the new order has been in line with the demands of the era. He succeeded in becoming a father to the party and upholding the fundamental principles that became the basis and compass for the next party journey. Although he sparked ideas and thoughts that symbolized the openness of PAS to the changing times, he was very wise in outlining the idealism of the party to the point of eternity until now. His strong stance in sparking Da'wah thoughts that were more similar to PAS-centric and shrouded in controversy at the time, had preceded many parties in introducing great ideas such as the Hadith tajdid which later was recognized as a source of inspiration for the hadhari Islamic ideas launched by the UMNO government led by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi   Keywords: Da’wah thought, Haji Yusof Rawa   Abstrak: Artikel dengan judul ‘Ketokohan dan Pemikiran Dakwah Tuan Haji Yusof Rawa (1922 – 2000) di Malaysia’, ini bertujuan memaparkan dan menganalisis ketokohan dan pemikiran al-marhum Tuan Haji Yusof Rawa dalam bidang dakwah Islamiah. Dimulai dengan menyorot latar belakang ketokohan beliau dan seterusnya membincangkan mengenai pemikiran dakwah Islamiahnya. Metode yang digunakan dalam kajian ini menggunakan metode atau pendekatan kepustakaan (library research). Studi pustaka dapat diartikan sebagai serangkaian kegiatan yang berkenaan dengan metode pengumpulan data pustaka, membaca dan mencatat serta mengolah bahan penelitian. Temuan dari penelitian ini menunjukkan peranan tokoh ini dalam mengendalikan zaman transisi orde lama kepada orde baru telah sejalan dengan tuntutan zaman. Beliau berhasil menjadi seorang bapak bagi partai dan menegakkan asas fundamental yang menjadi dasar dan kompas kepada perjalanan partai selanjutnya. Walaupun beliau mencetuskan berbagai ide dan pemikiran yang melambangkan keterbukaan PAS kepada perubahan zaman, beliau sangat arif menggariskan idealisme partai hingga kekal utuh sampai sekarang. Ketokohannya dalam mencetuskan pemikiran dakwah yang lebih mirip kepada PAS-centric serta diselubungi dengan kontroversi pada waktu itu, telah mendahului banyak pihak dalam memperkenalkan gagasan besar seperti tajdid hadhari yang kemudian diakui menjadi sumber inspirasi kepada gagasan Islam hadhari yang dilancarkan oleh pemerintahan UMNO pimpinan Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.   Kata kunci: Pemikiran dakwah, Haji Yuso Rawa   &nbsp

Leadership Styles, Turnover Intentions and the Mediating Role of Organizational Commitment

The aim of this research article is to investigate the association between leadership styles, organizational commitment and turnover intentions. In particular, this study focuses on the mediation effect of organizational commitment on the association between styles of leadership and turnover intentions. One hundred and seventy (170) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and twenty one (121) questionnaires were returned, indicating a response rate of 71.2%. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to collect data. The population of this study consists of the insurance sector of Pakistan. Employees working at different hierarchal level were targeted, comprising non-managerial and managerial levels including upper, middle, and lower level management. The data were analyzed by using statistical package of SPSS 20th version. It was found that there is negative insignificant association between turnover intentions and transactional and transformational leadership styles. Also, organizational commitment mediated the association between styles of leadership and turnover intentions. Managers should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of different leadership styles as these may affect organizational commitment of subordinates and eventually, positive or negative effect on turnover intentions. Keywords: Styles of Leadership, Employee Turnover Intentions, Organizational Commitment, Insurance Companies, Pakistan

The Concept of Change Management in Today’s Business World

Companies are most likely to be successful in making change work to their advantage are the ones that no longer view change as a discrete event to be managed, but as a constant opportunity to evolve the business. The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the concept of change management in today’s business world. Focus of the debate should be on existing literature. Keywords: Change management, Lewin’s change model, business world

The Role of Workplace Partnership Strategies in Employee Management Relations

Goal of every commercial organization is to make profits though its operations. Employers adapt different strategies to be profitable. Partnership has been given a lot of significance by trade union congress (TUC) and chartered institute of personnel and development (CIPD) as one of the key business strategy towards having a healthy employee management relationship and a successful business technique. In this research article we have investigated the role that “Workplace partnership” strategies play in employee management relations. Keywords: Workplace partnership, employee management, Industrial relations