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Global concern over socioeconomic activities' environmental impact is undeniable, given their implications for climate and human welfare. In our study, we analyze Pakistan's landscape, with emphasis on the effects of electricity generation and consumption (both symmetric and asymmetric), energy trade, and the role of information and communication technology (ICT). We harnessed data from 1993 to 2020, sourced from World Development Indicators, Climate Watch, and the USA EIA. Our analysis involved application of the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag model and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag bounds testing methods. Our results reveal that electricity consumption, whether experiencing positive or negative shocks, exhibits a tendency to elevate emissions over the long term. Similarly, shocks in electricity generation from fossil fuels, whether positive or negative, have adverse environmental consequences both in the short and long run. A negative shock in electricity generation from renewable and alternative sources triggers environmental degradation. Remarkably, nuclear energy plays a pivotal role in bolstering environmental sustainability in Pakistan. Conversely, we identified factors contributing to ecological degradation, including imports of coal, crude oil, metallurgical coke, and ICT usage, in the long run. Equally, trade and natural resources rent emerge as mitigating factors over time. Ultimately, our study underscores the importance of diversifying the energy mix, with a particular emphasis on expanding the renewable sources for reducing emissions and fostering environmental sustainability in Pakistan. Additionally, our research suggests that leveraging natural resources rent and trade capabilities can pave the way for an eco-friendlier future in the country. This study assesses the environmental impact of electricity generation by source, electricity consumption, energy trade, and ICTs in Pakistan. The findings confirm that both positive and negative shocks in fossil fuel electricity generation and consumption detrimentally affect the environment. Coal, crude oil, metallurgical coke imports, and ICTs degrade the environment, while nuclear electricity generation, natural resources rent, and trade improve it. Integrating energy diversification with focus on promoting renewable energy sources has the potential to significantly reduce emissions and advance long-run environmental sustainability. Strategically utilizing natural resources rent and trade capabilities can aid in establishing an environmental sustainability in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although women's activism has existed in Pakistan since its inception, the country witnessed a new type of activism in the shape of the "Aurat March" in 2019 and 2020 onwards. This study investigates the history, aspirations, and outcomes of Western feminism. Using discourse analysis, this study investigates women's activism in Pakistan, the 'Aurat March, and the public hostility met by organizers and supporters as a result of the event's strange chants and comical signs. Pakistan is more than just a Muslim country; it is also a Third World country with a brief postcolonial history and this inquiry delves into the intricate web of Islamic culture and feminism at work there. This article examines the 'Aurat March' movement in Western civilization for social, cultural, and religious transformation, as well as its relationship to feminism. Instead of focusing on minor issues, the study also emphasizes the need of women's rights advocates raising a rational and effective public voice with widespread support if we are to finally abolish social evils. Women's rights in the context of western feminism have been compared with limits on women's emancipation in the Islamic context, and a framework has been proposed to clarify this distinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan has received a total of 23 loan packages from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 1958 and 2023, and recurrent indebtedness has hindered structural transformation. Recent crises, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, surging commodity prices, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and diplomatic tensions between the United States and China, have exacerbated Pakistan's indebtedness. This debt has geopolitical importance given the rivalry between the US and China. Multilateral support for restructuring has been complicated by Pakistan's unique alliance with China through the China‒Pakistan Economic Corridor, pivotal to the Belt and Road Initiative. This analysis of Pakistan's debt crisis explores this complexity by considering the Pakistani government's attempts to resist the IMF, particularly between 2018 and 2022, when the potential of China as an alternative source of financial support looked increasingly viable. Unlike less critical political analyses on debt, which tend to be preoccupied with endogenous governance failures and fiscal profligacy, this article focuses on the external drivers of debt. In doing so, it highlights the role of a hostile international legal system, standard‐setting arrangements, rating agencies and arbitrary charges that impose huge economic burdens and undermine financial stability, as well as the constraints embedded in the global investment and financial architecture that persistently limit Pakistan's policy space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic variants in vacuolar protein sorting 13 homolog B (VPS13B) cause Cohen syndrome (CS), a clinically diverse neurodevelopmental disorder. We used whole exome and Sanger sequencing to identify disease-causing variants in a Pakistani family with intellectual disability, microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, neutropenia, truncal obesity, speech delay, motor delay, and insomnia. We identified a novel homozygous nonsense variant c.8841G > A: p.(W2947 ∗ ) in VPS13B (NM_017890.5) which segregated with the disease. Sleep disturbances are commonly seen in neurodevelopmental disorders and can exacerbate medical issues if left untreated. We demonstrate that individuals with Cohen syndrome may also be affected by sleep disturbances. In conclusion, we expand the genetic and phenotypic features of Cohen syndrome in the Pakistani population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current study was conducted to check the genetic exploration for quality aspect of brassica at Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2017- 18. The parents and the crosses were evaluated following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Highly significant differences were noted among all the genotypes for seed oil, seedcake protein, glucosinolate, oleic acid and erucic acid contents showing high genetic potential for improvement. Analysis for the general combining ability showed almost significant differences except for protein that showed maximum non-significant difference among the lines. Significant difference were also noted among testers except for protein and erucic acid. Specific combining ability showed both significant and non-significant differences in positive and negative directions. Analysis for the components of genetic variance indicated that non-additive gene action played a significant role for the inheritance of the traits. This was further continued by GCA/SCA ratio values (0.040, 0.023, 0.0174, -0.0026, 0.178) which were less than 1 that depicted non-additive variance involved in these traits so as to achieve homozygous line. On basis of oil, erucic acid, oleic acid and glucosinolate these combinations viz. UAF12 × Torch, Toria × Candle, UAF11 × Torch and Span × Candle, were selected for SCA effects relative heterosis, heterobeltiosis and GCA estimates. These combinations can be used as source of quality traits in further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majority of Pakistani soils are deficient in phosphorus. Phosphorus is usually applied in form of synthetic fertilizer. However integrated use of P from synthetic and organic sources can be more profitable and beneficial on sustainable basis. Field trials were conducted at research farm University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan for two consecutive years to check the comparative effects of synthetic fertilizer and organic manures applied alone and in combinations on the phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), wheat yield and yield components. Shafaq-06 cultivar of wheat was used as test cultivar. Ten treatments were included: (I) Control (P0) without application of fertilizer; (II) SSP @ 60 kg/ha (P60SSP); (III) SSP @ 90 kg/ha (P90SSP); (IV) SSP @ 120 kg/ha (P120SSP); (V) PM @60 kg/ha (P60PM); (VI) PM @90 kg/ha (P90PM); (VII) PM @120 kg/ha (P120PM); (VIII) SSP @30 kg/ha + PM @30 kg/ha (P30SSP+30PM); (IX) SSP @45 kg/ha + PM @45 kg/ha (P45SSP+45PM); (X) SSP @60 kg/ha + PM @60 kg/ha (P60SSP+60PM) which were laid out under the Randomized Complete Block Design. Significantly higher values for yield of grain (2397 kg/ha) was recorded with PM + SSP @ 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 each. Likewise, FPUE, PIR of wheat and AFPUE was quite higher with combined use of PM and SSP i.e. P60SSP+60PM treatment. Additionally, increase in PUE, wheat yield and yield components associated with combined treated plot would help to minimize the use of high cost synthetic mineral fertilizers and represents an environmentally and agronomically sound management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was conducted at Surgarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2018-19 to evaluate twelve (12) exotic sugarcane clones imported from Philippines for biometric traits and diseases resistance in local climatic conditions. These clones were put in preliminary yield trials (4th stage) of varietal development program to evaluate their performance in comparison with local check varieties HSF 240 and CPF 249. The exotic genotypes along with local checks were subjected to randomized complete block design (RCBD) by keeping three replications during crop season 2018-19. Six biometric traits like germination%, tillers per plant, no. of canes, cane weight, cane yield and sugar contents along with resistance to two major diseases viz. red rot and smut of sugarcane were studied. Two-sided Dunnett’s multiple test was used for comprehensive comparison among bimetric traits. The results of this study indicated that all the clones differed significantly for their agronomic traits. Although some varieties of Philippines showed better performance for cane yield (PSR 01-46, 184.7 t/ha) as compared to check varieties but they could not surpass them for sugar contents (11.54%) and also found susceptible to red rot and smut diseases. Only three exotic clones viz. PSR 01-28, PSR 98-11 and PSR 99-182 were promoted to next selection stage of varietal development program on the basis of higher or comparable cane yield (120.7, 141.7 and 105.3 t/ha, respectively) than check varieties and diseases reaction. However, the sugar contents of these exotic clones were found at par with check varieties and thus further testing and evaluation is required to improve adaptability and stability for consistent performance under local agro-ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]