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School mapping being a form of local planning is dealt as a local subject but has national and international impacts. This is a dynamic process which initiates with detailed diagnoses of the local situation, and on the basis of national objectives and international norms, provides for future educational needs at the local level and to indicates the obligatory measure required to achieve these needs. Ironically, local and national planners in Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan still show reluctance in using School Mapping Techniques. As a result the resources are misused, supervision becomes difficult and ghost and un-operational schools are not uncommon. This qualitative study focuses to address the customary conditions of school mapping in twenty four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for diagnosis of the major factors that make the educational planners reluctant and in addition to determine the causes of not realizing its importance in Educational Management Information System (EMIS). This makes the study unique as no such effort has ever made before in the area to probe the matter and suggest remedies. Data were collected by means of interview schedule with dealing EMIS managers at provincial level of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Executive District Officers of Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Kohat, Karak, Charsadda, Abbottabad and Mansehra districts while from the rest of sixteen districts telephonic conversation was focused as a major tool for collecting data. The results show that respondents both at Provincial and District level are well aware of the importance of school mapping but were reluctant to implement it practically due to very minor or no reasons.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the status of antimicrobial‐resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan, their association in terms of co‐occurrence with the biofilm‐forming genes, resistance profiling and associated discrepancies in diagnostic methods. Methodology: A total of 384 milk samples from bovine was collected by using convenient sampling technique and were initially screened for subclinical mastitis, further preceded by isolation and confirmation of S. aureus. The S. aureus isolates were subjected to evaluation of antimicrobial resistance by phenotypic identification using Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method, while the genotypic estimation was done by polymerase chain reaction to declare isolates as methicillin, beta‐lactam, vancomycin, tetracycline, and aminoglycoside resistant S. aureus (MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA), respectively. Results: The current study revealed an overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis and S. aureus to be 59.11% and 46.69%, respectively. On a phenotypic basis, the prevalence of MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA was found to be 44.33%, 58.49%, 20.75%, 35.84%, and 30.18%, respectively. The results of PCR analysis showed that 46.80% of the tested isolates were declared as MRSA, 37.09% as BRSA, and 36.36% as VRSA, while the occurrence of TRSA and ARSA was observed in 26.31% and 18.75%, respectively. The current study also reported the existence of biofilm‐producing genes (icaA and icaD) in 49.06% and 40.57% isolates, respectively. Lastly, this study also reported a high incidence of discrepancies for both genotypic and phenotypic identification methods of resistance evaluation, with the highest discrepancy ratio for the accA‐aphD gene, followed by tetK, vanB, blaZ, and mecA genes. Conclusion: The study concluded that different antibiotic resistance strains of S. aureus are prevalent in study districts with high potential to transmit between human populations. The study also determined that there are multiple resistance determinants and mechanisms that are responsible for the silencing and expression of antibiotic resistance genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares the two emerging seaports: Gwadar port (Pakistan); and Chabahar port (Iran). The study evaluates the trade attractiveness among the neighboring countries, i.e., Afghanistan, China, and the Central Asian States, while keeping China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development in perspective. The two ports may provide one of the closest sea links for the resource-rich Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. At the same time, Gwadar provides China with an alternative and short trade route via Pakistan. The study employs the Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique of Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods to evaluate and select the best seaport. The findings establish that Gwadar is a better option. The study also provides recommendations for the authorities of the two ports and the prospective other countries in the neighborhood to ensure maximum return on their investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt-affected soil reclamation provides opportunities for crop production and carbon sequestration. In arid regions such as Pakistan, limited studies have been reported involving soil reclamation and crop production under wheat–maize rotation, but no study has reported predictions on long-term carbon sequestration in reclaimed soils for the treatments used in this study. Thus, a field-scale fallow period and crop production experiment was conducted for wheat–maize rotation on salt-affected soils in Pakistan for 3 years to check the effectiveness of organic amendments for reclamation of the salt-affected soils, carbon sequestration and food grain production. Treatments used were the control (with no additional amendments to reduce salinity), gypsum alone and gypsum in combination with different organic amendments (poultry manure, green manure, and farmyard manure). The treatment with gypsum in combination with farmyard manure was most effective at increasing soil carbon (+169% over the three-year period of the trial). The maximum wheat yield was also recorded in year 3 with gypsum in combination with farmyard manure (51%), while the effect of green manure combined with gypsum also showed a significant increase in maize yield in year 3 (49%). Long-term simulations suggested that the treatments would all have a significant impact on carbon sequestration, with soil C increasing at a steady rate from 0.53% in the control to 0.86% with gypsum alone, 1.25% with added poultry manure, 1.69% with green manure and 2.29% with farmyard manure. It is concluded that food crops can be produced from freshly reclaimed salt-affected soils, and this can have added long-term benefits of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the affective domain indicates it is a less explored area in Pakistan. The study focuses on the factors of writing anxiety and how motivation affects writing anxiety are the two affective variables associated with foreign language learning. The data was collected from 36 students from a private university in Lahore. The study's findings revealed that despite their low anxiety level, they still experience writing anxiety due to grammar, evaluation, and topical knowledge. In addition, they had a lot of instrumental and integrative motivation. They valued the English subject's instrumental function and contributions, the communicative activities, and the instructor's teaching. According to correlation and regression analyses, writing anxiety levels decrease as motivation to learn a language rises. It concluded that encouraging students to learn English can reduce writing anxiety. According to the findings, English teachers should prioritize motivation in their classrooms by serving as effective role models for their students, encouraging students to write to learn, encouraging students to write to learn, appreciating the writing they produce, and exposing them to real-world applications of the English macro skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice between organic and inorganic farming is an exciting debate in scholarly literature. A large number of studies has enriched the discussion. However, this particular study adds to this debate in unique ways. This study uses a hybrid model based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a methodological contribution to the debate of organic and inorganic farming by using multicriteria decision analysis. Also, this study uses several conflicting criteria (such as health benefits, environmental benefits, soil fertility, consumer awareness, etc.) that have not been combined in a single research study earlier to consider the choice of organic and inorganic farming. The study is based on a questionnaire survey undertaken by consumers, farmers and agriculture experts. After the application of the AHP-TOPSIS based hybrid model, several interesting results have been founded that have important policy implications for farming in Pakistan and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The pharmaceutical retail industry faces leadership challenges, emphasizing the importance of a mechanism to support sales managers. This paper aims to demonstrate how shared leadership (SL) might improve team performance (TP), with knowledge sharing (KS) and psychological safety (PS) serving as dual mediation effects. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used social learning theory (SLT) to support their hypotheses. Using a purposive sampling technique, 440 respondents (65 leaders and 375 team members) from 65 pharmaceutical sales teams in Pakistan were obtained through data collection from dyad sources. The authors also used partial least square-structured equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 3.3.9 to assess the measurement model and the direct paths testing. The authors also used PROCESS macro version 4 to examine dual mediation effects. Findings: The results revealed that SL does not directly impact TP; rather, it depends on the dual mediating mechanisms of KS and PS. Originality/value: This is an initial attempt to establish a conceptual model based on SLT, with KS and PS acting as dual mediation mechanisms. This research contributes to the current knowledge of team leadership by concentrating on how SL approaches might promote TP in the pharmaceutical sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major environmental problems is the fast accumulation of brick kiln emissions near the peripheries of almost all urban centers. An enormous quantity of substandard coal, wood, rubber tires, or saw wood is used as fuel in these brick kilns, creating environmental pollution through carbon and heavy metals present in the emissions. The present study was designed to determine the distribution pattern of heavy metals in a soil–water-plant system under the influence of brick kiln emissions. Ash, soil (0–15 cm), water, and plant samples were collected from the adjacent areas of the brick kilns. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factors were used to assess the toxicity of metals to soil and plants. It was found that the concentrations of Cd in water, soil, coal, and plant samples were found in the range of 0.004–0.024 mg L−1, 0.02–0.66, 0.002–0.042, and 0.06 to 0.07 mg kg−1, respectively, while Pb concentration was found within the range of 0–0.08 mg L−1, 0.30–8.60, 0.011–0, and 0.01–0.08 mg kg−1 in water, soil, and plant samples, respectively. The concentration of Cd in brick kilns ash was in the range of 0–0.04 mg kg−1 while Pb was found within the range of 0.01–0.05 mg kg−1 for ash. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor values for Cd were found higher suggesting proper pollution prevention measures to be implemented. Based on the results, it was concluded that Cd concentrations in soil, plants, and water samples were higher in the subject area due to brick kiln emissions and higher Cd concentrations in the fuel material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation is one potential action for improving the environment from local to global scales. Deforestation plagues many regions of the world and in recent times, there are ongoing efforts by some countries to expand afforestation programs. One key decision in the design of afforestation programs is species selection. Here, we demonstrate species selection for afforestation using two different multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. The study covers two regions within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and is based on their ongoing project, the Billion Tree Tsunami. We considered six criteria for decision making. These criteria included cost, reproducibility, growth rate, environmental compatibility (including soil compatibility, temperature, rainfall requirements), environmental effects (including transpiration rate, evergreen or not, soil erosion control) and uses (medical, constructional and fodder). The results of both MCDM methods were comparable, suggesting that our findings are acceptable and consistent. The study is useful for the forestry department at local and international levels. Additionally, it is informative for researchers and readers with an interest in the application of MCDM in forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), a class-A human carcinogen, is ubiquitously present in the earth's crust and soil and may enter the air, water, and surface environments through different natural and anthropogenic sources. In this experiment, soil, irrigation water, and rice grains were sampled from conventional rice-growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 15 cm surface soil of rice growing fields, and rice grains were collected from the same field at crop maturity. Irrigation water samples were collected from the source used to irrigate the respective rice fields. Coordinates of sampling locations were noted using a global positioning system, and a locations map was made using ArcGIS. Soil samples were digested in a microwave digester using aqua regia, and plant samples were block digested using nitric acid. Arsenic concentration was determined using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer coupled with an auto-sampler and integrated samples introduction system. The mean concentration of As in rice grains, soil, and water samples was found within the safe limit set by WHO except for a sample from Narowal (148.54 µg l−1) that exceeded the irrigation water standard limit, i.e., 100 µg l−1 for irrigation water. Principal component analysis was performed to reduce the multidimensional space of variables and samples. Through the calculations of estimated daily intake, it has been revealed that the As levels measured in this study would only contribute a small amount (less than 5%) of the total recommended daily intake allowance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan, like other developing countries, is also facing environmental and economic challenges in its transportation sector (especially in public transport). Pakistan is going to get finances for the infrastructure-related projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. One of the CPEC projects is the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT). The study employs traditional techniques such as linear trend regression, benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and geometric progression to analyse the economic viability of the project. The results show that with given interest rate and stability in exchange rate the project is economically viable, with a benefit/cost ratio (BCR) of 2.11 and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) equal to 3.07 per cent. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis is done for possible changes in economic conditions as well as for different interest rates for loan repayments. The study is useful for policymakers interested in the benefit–cost analysis of public transportation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural springs which originate from hilly areas of Skardu in Pakistan make their route downward and are utilized by the public as they passes from residential areas. Due to weathering processes in mountainous regions, these springs can be the source of various trace elements and pollutants. Keeping in mind the same concept, ten mostly used freshwater springs were selected to evaluate their drinking water quality in the Skardu region. Three samples of water from each spring (start/mouth, 100 m away from the mouth, and 200 m away from mouth) were collected and analyzed for water quality via Water Quality Index (WQI). The main parameters of spring water were recorded in the laboratory as electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and secondary parameters, i.e., Kelley's ratio (KR), permeability index (PI), and WQI, were derived. Besides these parameters, heavy metal pollutants (Cd, Cr, Mn, and Cu) were also determined from the water samples. The results showed that the assessed parameters TDS, SSP, KR, and PI were found within the safer limits of drinking water as prescribed by the Pak-EPA and WHO. However, among trace elements, only Cd (0.03 mg L−1) was found above the permissible limits of 0.01 mg L−1 as given by the GOP-EPA (2008) and WHO (1996) at Shigri Bala spring 200 m away. Similarly, at 2 ft from the mouth of Chumig S1 spring, its concentrations were recorded 0.03 mg L−1, and at Benazir Chowk spring (100 m away), it was found 0.02 mg L−1. In general, the Water WQI demonstrates that springs have good water quality. Our findings are useful for the environmental protection managers and citizens of the Skardu concerned with the water quality of the springs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unplanned development of cities creates several problems like deterioration of environment, unbalanced ecosystem and poor community interrelation. Furthermore, shifting rural communities to urban areas can damage the urban forestry by conversion of natural habitat into concrete heat island. In this scenario, for improvement of urban environmental quality, people's perception and opinion could be helpful for better implementation of urban management decisions. The objectives of this study were to examine the perception of urban dwellers towards urban trees and to explore the variation in opinion for managing the diverse types of urban spaces. The present study was conducted in 3rd most populous city of Pakistan viz. Faisalabad, divided into four categories i.e. parks, hospitals, institutions, and urban communities. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted by four hundred respondents with a hundred from each category to analyze people's perception, attitude, and preference towards urban trees. Results depicted diversity among respondents related to age, education, profession, and monthly income. Three most abundant tree species in Faisalabad named Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (17%), Conocarpus erectus L. (43%) and Vachellia nilotica (L.) P. Hurter & Mabb. (12%) were disliked due to various problems like accidents, garbage, sewerage problems, and electric transmission issue, respectively. Moreover, it was also assessed that demographic characters i.e. gender, age, education, income, and profession have a strong association on liking and disliking of urban trees. This study helps to analyze the people's perception, attitude, and preference towards urban vegetation and provide valuable information for establishing future green belts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan Railways has faced a severe financial crisis in recent years. Pakistan has recently become a partner with China in a mega-investment project under an agreement called the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Among other things, CPEC also includes a range of investments in Pakistan Railways. This particular study focuses on the analysis of US$8.2 billion investment in the upgrade and expansion of the Karachi-Peshawar railways link, which is also known as the ML-1 (Main Line 1). The study found ML-1 as economically viable with a payback period of 10 years. Furthermore, ML-1 project investment is expected to result in uplifting Pakistan Railways, mainly through an increase in freight and passenger transportation. Some risk factors may hinder the expected economic return from the CPEC investment in Pakistan Railways. These factors include consistency in the government policies, the status of the Pakistani economy in upcoming years, and law and order situations in the country. The study has a utility for the governments of both countries and larger business communities have stakes in the trade between the two countries. It is equally beneficial for the international community, businesses (both in China and Pakistan) and locals of the region associated with the CPEC infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faisalabad is one of the major industrial cities of Pakistan, which may cause noise pollution to the local residents due to the development of robust industrial and transport systems. This study aimed at (i) mapping the noise pollution levels at various locations of Faisalabad city; (ii) comparing noise pollution levels in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening for each source; and (iii) assessing nonauditory effects of noise on human health. Two industries and 43 famous/busy locations of Faisalabad Sadar were selected to study noise pollution by using the sound level meter for the period of 24 h. A questionnaire-based survey was carried out near the sampling points to get a public perception about the health impacts of noise pollution. The measured equivalent sound pressure levels (SPLeq) were higher than the permissible limits at all the sampling locations during morning, afternoon, and evening hours. The maximum sound pressure level (SPLmax) was 102 dB inside the production unit in the afternoon at Mian Muhammad Siddiq Textile Loom industry. The average SPL was found at State Bank road (102 dB), Children's Hospital (101 dB), Jhang Bazar (100 dB) in the afternoon and at Punjab Medical College in the evening (97 dB). Based on the survey, 94% of respondents reported headache, 76% sleeplessness, 74% hypertension, 74% physiological stress, 64% elevated blood pressure levels, and 60% dizziness due to noise. Noise pollution is higher than the standard limits and causes auditory as well as nonauditory effects on humans. The vehicles and industrial machinery should be maintained, and sound proofing and protection equipment should be provided to the workforce in order to protect them from extreme noise levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects are widely spread throughout Pakistan with the potential to have a massive impact on Pakistan's economic future. CPEC projects have, therefore, made it imperative that green practices are adapted to provide sustainability to the CPEC projects. The adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) framework will significantly increase the value attained from CPEC projects through the increased benefits to the socio-cultural and economic conditions of Pakistan without causing harm to the environment. The purpose of this paper is to identify and rank the GSCM practices for implementation in the construction industry of Pakistan according to expert opinion. Design/methodology/approach: This study targets the experts who are employed as supply chain managers in the different construction industries of Pakistan. The opinions of these experts have been extracted through an online questionnaire that was based on six alternatives along with four criteria. The tool of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) that is a Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) has been used to analyze the results. Findings: Six alternatives that have been used for this study are green design, green procurement, green production, green warehousing, green transportation and green recycling. The top-ranked alternative as a practice for GSCM is green warehousing followed by green production. The lowest ranked alternative in this study is green recycling. The alternatives have been ranked on the basis of "cc" values derived through TOPSIS. Practical implications: As the advancement in the construction industry will definitely going to impact the environmental sustainability of the country, the results derived through this research will assist the managers of the construction industry of Pakistan to adopt best practices among green supply chain in order to lower their impact. Originality/value: Framework using TOPSIS in order to find the best GSCM practice in Pakistan has not been reported before this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is the 2nd most deficient nutrient among plants (<10 mg P kg-1 soil) in >90% soil of Pakistan. The crop requirement is achieved by fertilization however effectiveness of the current P (Phosphorus) containing fertilizers applied as broadcast is less (20%). Application of phosphoric acid (PA) and potassium humate (PH) not only increases the nutrients availability to plant but also improves soil characteristics. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the behavior of PA and PH in saline-sodic soil for nutrient availability in maize. Twenty-seven plastic pots were used in this experiment. PA was applied according to recommended dose of Punjab Agriculture Department (NPK 200-150-200 kg ha-1), while the PH was applied according to the Agrolix fertilizer private limited recommendation (50 and 100 kg ha-1). The plant growth parameters (length and dry weight of root and shoot), ionic interaction (N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in root, shoot and grain) and grain weight were recorded. The results showed 241% and 315% more shoot and root dry weight as compared to control with combined application of PA and PH. The length of shoot and root were improved to 181% and 232% as compared to control. The grain yield was positively correlated with shoot dry weight (r2 = 0.6618). Application of PA decreased the soil electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) about 91% and 96% respectively after one cropping season. Grain yield had highly significant (r2= 0.829) negative correlation with soil ECe (Electrical conductivity) whereas it was also negatively correlated with soil SAR (r2=0.5942). Results further explained the significant positive correlation between phosphorus and iron concentration in grain (r2 = 0.7454). However, phosphorus concentration was not correlated with grain zinc concentration (r2 = 0.1798). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed geochemical analyses of clastic fraction of the oldest exposed Salt Range Formation in the famous salt producing region (Salt and Trans-Indus Ranges) Pakistan was carried out in order to understand provenance, paleoclimate, depositional and tectonic settings. Sandstone and shale samples of Salt Range Formation were analysed for major, trace and Rare Earth Elements and various geochemical models and ratios were used to interpret. Geochemical analyses of both sandstone and shale fraction mostly display similar results and interpretations. The samples are classified as arkose, subarkose, litharenites and were sourced from felsic and/or intermediate igneous rocks. The sedimentation of the detritus was occurred in fluvial to restricted shelf conditions under arid to semi-arid and oxygenated climate conditions. The tectonic settings of the sediments were mainly Oceanic and Continental Island arcs as well as Active Continental margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous Impulsive mine collapses induced by shallow partial mining in the Cambrian Abbottabad formation have caused fatalities, significant property loss and brought harmful results to the environment. Mining subsidence is therefore needed to be monitored on all accounts during mining operations in this area. Based on a long history of soapstone mining in Sherwan, a generic approach is presented in this paper for investigating subsidence related phenomena in the area. This paper demonstrates a time prevision for the future subsidence using an empirical modelling approach EMA. 20 underground drift and shaft mines located in the Sherwan North-West Abbottabad, Pakistan have been studied using EMA. Empirical modelling formula, validated by Distinct Element code UDEC has been used to predict the time of subsidence of these mines. This approach is a factor of width, height and depth of excavation of a mine and it can be applied to area where mines are truly restricted to one locality e.g. Sherwan. The calculated statistical data unconcealed the current state and predicts time for future subsidence of Khanda Khau, Bandi Nikra and Chellether mines within Sherwan. Mines other than these three localities are mostly safe and stable. The major causes of mine subsidence in the area includes both natural and man-made factors which are briefly described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of organic amendments is a common practice in Pakistan to improve soil fertility. Organic amendments affect the chemical speciation and thus the bioavailability of heavy metals and their uptake and toxicity to plants. The present study evaluates the influence of organic amendments viz. farm yard manure (FM), poultry manure (PM), press mud (PrM) and activated carbon (AC) on nickel (Ni) bioavailability in soil, as well as its uptake into, and growth responses of, Trifolium alexandrinum. Pot experiments were conducted where T. alexandrinum was exposed to three different concentrations of Ni i.e., 30, 60 and 90 mg kg-1 in the form of NiCl2 solution in the presence and absence of organic amendments each applied at 15 g kg-1 soil. The results showed that the effect of organic amendments on Ni bioavailability and uptake by T. alexandrinum depended on the Ni concentration in the soil and the amendment type. Application of organic amendments generally increased Ni phytoavailability in soil and Ni uptake by plants at low Ni levels (Ni-0 and Ni-30) but decreased at higher levels (Ni-60 and Ni-90). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is a major source of water supply for domestic and irrigation uses in semiarid, remote but rapidly developing Kilasaifullah district part of Zhob River Basin, located at Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. Zhob River is among few major rivers of perennial nature in Balochistan, which flows from WSW to ENE and falls in Gomal River, a tributary of Indus River. Keeping in view the important geopolitical position and rapid development of the region, this study is primarily focused on groundwater chemistry for contamination sources as well as agriculture development. Water samples from open and tube wells are analyzed and calculated for electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, pH, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc is widespread deficient in calcareous soils and its management is more complex in reduced root-zone conditions of rice grown on saline-sodic soils. Present pot study was conducted in a wire house, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2010 to compare Zn enriched farm yard manure (FYM) with chelated (Zn-EDTA) and non chelated (zinc sulphate, ZnSO4) Zn sources for optimum grain yield and higher Zn concentration in grains of rice (cv. Shaheen Basmati) grown in a salt-affected soil. Treatments comprised of 1.5, 3 or 6 mg Zn kg-1 soil in the form of both ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA, and Zn-enriched farm yard manure 5% of soil (w/w). Zn enrichment was done with same three levels of Zn using ZnSO4. Application of Zn increased plant growth, grain yield and Zn concentration in various tissues, irrespective of the Zn source. The increase in plant growth and Zn concentration was higher when plants were grown with Znenriched FYM compared to ZnSO4 or Zn-EDTA application alone. The maximum Zn concentration in rice grains (13.9 mg kg-1) and straw (19.1 mg kg-1) were obtained with the same treatment. It was concluded that application of ZnSO4 enriched FYM proved better over application of alone ZnSO4 or Zn-EDTA indicating the positive role of organic matter in increasing grain yield and grain Zn concentration on soils affected with salts and depleted in organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, provincial finances largely hinge on federal transfers from the divisible pool via the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. While provincial share in tax revenue is less than 5 percent, provincial share in expenditure is over 25 percent, indicating dependence on federal transfers and the extent of vertical fiscal imbalance. The sustainability of public services provided by the provinces requires enough "own" revenues rather than reliance on federal transfers and grants. The 7th NFC Award and the 18th Constitutional Amendment reinforce the constitutional rights of the provinces to collect GST services. However, tax decentralisation is a complex issue in management of public finances in Pakistan. Its implementation seems difficult due to various factors like the difficulty to distinguish sales tax revenues from goods and services. This paper is an attempt to analyse the role of GST services in minimising vertical imbalances. The findings suggest that the vertical fiscal imbalance can be minimised by shifting the collection of GST services from the federal government to the provincial governments. They indicate that with full provincial share of GST services, provincial share in taxes would have doubled during 2006-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major developments in 2009-10 was a successfully concluded 7th NFC Award [NFC Award (2009)], which has brought about some profound changes in the resource distribution formula. Since 1973, it is the first time when the distribution of resources among provinces is based not only on the population but also on other criteria such as backwardness, inverse population density, and revenue collection/generation. This Award has also helped resolve other issues such as GDS and Hydroelectricity Profit. This paper analyses the financial implications of the NFC Award 2009 and its impact on three major social services, namely, education, health, and water supply and sanitation. The result shows that as compared to the NFC Award 1997 and Presidential Distribution Order: Distribution of Revenues and Grants-in-Aid Order 2006, the changes made in vertical distribution of resources under the NFC Award 2009 favour the provincial governments (combined) rather than the federal government. An interesting finding is that while there is a decline in vertical share of the provinces under the NFC Award 2009 as compared to the NFC Award 1991, this decline is not evenly distributed among the provinces. In relative terms, the NFC Award 2009 benefits the two relatively more backward provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as compared to Sindh and Punjab. Moreover, the projected values of social sector expenditures indicate that the NFC Award 2009 has a positive impact on social sector spending. Given that Pakistan has a comparatively low spending on social services, this award is a positive move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the effects of Serum Calcium and Urinary Calcium excretion on upper urinary tract stone diseases in the Peshawar (a high stone incidence belt). Subjects & Methods: One hundred patients (age 20-60years) who were suffering severely from upper urinary tract stone disease were selected from LRH and Hayatabad Medical Complex Hospitals of Peshawar, same numbers of healthy controls from the same region were also selected for the study. Results: When results were summed up and test Parameters were compared, it was seen that mean Serum Calcium in stone formers was greater than that of non-stone formers (P<0.001). Same pattern was also observed (P< 0.001) in both groups regarding mean urinary calcium excretion. Conclusions: We concluded that calcium is a definitive risk factor in upper urinary tract stone disease. However we suggest further work and research on wide scale population in order to evaluate this relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, experimental apparatus of desiccant dehumidification was developed at lab-scale, using silica gel as a desiccant material. Experimental data were obtained at various ambient air conditions, while focusing the climatic conditions of Multan (Pakistan). A steady-state analysis approach for the desiccant dehumidification process was used, and thereby the slope of desiccant dehumidification line on psychrometric chart (ϕ*) was determined. It has been found that ϕ* = 0.22 in case of silica gel which is lower than the hydrophilic polymeric sorbent, i.e., ϕ* = 0.31. The study proposed two kinds of systems, i.e., (i) standalone desiccant air-conditioning (DAC) and (ii) Maisotsenko-cycle-assisted desiccant air-conditioning (M-DAC) systems. In addition, two kinds of desiccant material (i.e., silica gel and hydrophilic polymeric sorbent) were investigated from the thermodynamic point of view for both system types, using the experimental data and associated results. The study aimed to determine the optimum air-conditioning (AC) system type, as well as adsorbent material for building AC application. In this regard, perspectives of dehumidification capacity, cooling capacity, and thermal coefficient of performance (COP) are taken into consideration. According to the results, hydrophilic polymeric sorbent gave a higher performance, as compared to silica gel. In case of both systems, the performance was improved with the addition of Maisotsenko cycle evaporative cooling unit. The maximum thermal COP was achieved by using a polymer-based M-DAC system, i.e., 0.47 at 70 °C regeneration temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims & Objectives: Geographical variation in the rates of kidney stones has been observed for many years. Pakistan is situated in stone belt. Calculus diseases is endemic in Pakistan, perhaps the incidence in Pakistan is highest in the world. Purpose: To evaluate etiology and biochemical risk factors (inorganic phosphate) in the Peshawar. Subjects & Methods: Study was conducted at LHR and Hayatabad Hospitals of Peshawar for the period of nine months. Two hundred patients and same number of controls were selected. Results: The mean value of mean inorganic phosphate in non stone formers were less than that of stone formers. The mean of urinary inorganic phosphate excretion in stone formers was greater than that of non-stone formers. Conclusions: We conclude that inorganic phosphate is an independent risk factor for renal stone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a paper which analysed fiscal efforts by provincial governments in Pakistan. The author outlines his concerns over the set of assumptions used for the paper. The author questions the choices for tax bases for some sectors. The author emphasizes the need to further disintegrate the computing cost recovery index for social services.

One of the major developments in 2009-10 was a successfully concluded 7th NFC Award [NFC Award (2009)], which has brought about some profound changes in the resource distribution formula. Since 1973, it is the first time when the distribution of resources among provinces is based not only on the population but also on other criteria such as backwardness, inverse population density, and revenue collection/generation. This Award has also helped resolve other issues such as GDS and Hydroelectricity Profit. This paper analyses the financial implications of the NFC Award 2009 and its impact on three major social services, namely, education, health, and water supply and sanitation. The result shows that as compared to the NFC Award 1997 and Presidential Distribution Order: Distribution of Revenues and Grants-in-Aid Order 2006, the changes made in vertical distribution of resources under the NFC Award 2009 favour the provincial governments (combined) rather than the federal government. An interesting finding is that while there is a decline in vertical share of the provinces under the NFC Award 2009 as compared to the NFC Award 1991, this decline is not evenly distributed among the provinces. In relative terms, the NFC Award 2009 benefits the two relatively more backward provinces, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as compared to Sindh and Punjab. Moreover, the projected values of social sector expenditures indicate that the NFC Award 2009 has a positive impact on social sector spending. Given that Pakistan has a comparatively low spending on social services, this award is a positive move. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban atmospheric pollution is global problem and and have become increasingly critical in big cities around the world. Issue of toxic emissions has gained significant attention in the scientific community as the release of pollutants into the atmosphere rising continuously. Although, the Pakistani government has started the Pakistan Clean Air Program to control ambient air quality however, the desired air quality levels are yet to be reached. Since the process of mapping the dispersion of atmospheric pollutants in urban areas is intricate due to its dependence on multiple factors, such as urban vegetation and weather conditions. Therefore, present research focuses on two essential items: (1) the relationship between urban vegetation and atmospheric variables (temperature, relative humidity (RH), sound intensity (SI), CO, CO 2 , and particulate matter (PM 0.5 , PM 1.0 , and PM 2.5 ) and (2) the effect of seasonal change on concentration and magnitude of atmospheric variables. A geographic Information System (GIS) was utilized to map urban atmospheric variables dispersion in the residential areas of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Pearson correlation and principal component analyses were performed to establish the relationship between urban atmospheric pollutants, urban vegetation, and seasonal variation. The results showed a positive correlation between urban vegetation, metrological factors, and most of the atmospheric pollutants. Furthermore, PM concentration showed a significant correlation with temperature and urban vegetation cover. GIS distribution maps for PM 0.5 , PM 1.0 , PM 2.5, and CO 2 pollutants showed the highest concentration of pollutants in poorly to the moderated vegetated areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that urban vegetation requires a rigorous design, planning, and cost-benefit analysis to maximize its positive environmental effects., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Mastitis is one of the highly devastating issues responsible for production and economic losses in all dairy animals including sheep. This study was designed to investigate subclinical mastitis (SCM) associated with S. aureus in lactating nomadic ewes, along with the associated risk factors analysis. Furthermore, molecular characterization and antibiogram profiling of local methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates of ovine origin were also performed. A total of 384 milk samples (n = 384) were collected from 13 nomadic sheep flocks using a convenient sampling technique. SCM was evaluated using a Surf Field Mastitis test and the S. aureus was isolated using standard microbiological techniques. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay was used for phenotypic identification of MRSA while the mecA gene was tested through PCR. Study results revealed that SCM was prevalent at 34.37% while S. aureus association was recorded at 39.39%. MRSA prevalence was 36.53% and 21.15% using phenotypic and genotypic tests, respectively. The mecA gene sequences of study isolates showed maximum resemblance with already reported sequences from Pakistan, China, and Myanmar. MRSA isolates showed maximum resistance towards penicillin, ceftriaxone sodium, and trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole while gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and tylosin showed maximum efficacy. Risk factors analysis revealed that various flock management, housing, and host-related factors positively influenced the incidence of S. aureus-associated SCM. This study is the first report on the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA associated with SCM in lactating ewes in Pakistan. This study will help to devise effective treatment and control strategies for S. aureus-associated SCM., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the nasal colonization and drug resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) in donkeys (n =63), mules (n = 42), and horses (n = 98). MRSA and VRSA were confirmed based on phenotypic and molecular methods, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, the association of various animal and management-based risk factors with S. aureus colonization was also evaluated. The presence of nuc gene on polymerase chain reaction showed an overall prevalence of 42.86% of S. aureus in equines. Based on Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test, 26.44% of isolates showed resistance to vancomycin. Further, mecA and vanB genes were targeted which showed an overall 14.94% and 13.79% prevalence of methicillin and vancomycin-resistant isolates, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a significant variation of the study isolates with each other and with already reported sequences of mecA and vanB genes. Risk factor analysis revealed that raising purpose (P = .011), work intensity (P < .001), stocking density (P = .006), presence of other livestock animals in surroundings (P = .043), and common drinking water source (P = .023) as significant. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of MRSA and VRSA isolates showed high resistance to various commonly used antibiotics. Furthermore, all the tested isolates showing resistance to three or more than three antibiotics were considered multiple drug-resistant. The current study manifests the molecular evidence of MRSA and VRSA isolated from equines in Pakistan which will help to address the emerging issue of multidrug resistance in S. aureus in equines and emphasizes the need for possible measures to tackle this issue., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have declared no conflict of interest in the submission/publication of this data., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess and compare the frequency of antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus aureus strains., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the privately-owned Welfare Medical Laboratory, Peshawar, Pakistan, and comprised record related to the period between 07th February 2017 and 23rd March 2018 of patients referred for pus-testing from Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and the Hayatabad Medical Complex. Pus samples were obtained from various parts of body with cotton swabs. The samples were cultured and the isolated staphylococcus aureus strains were analysed against selected antibiotics. The frequency of the isolated strains was tested and compared using Prism 7 software., Results: Of the 6780 samples, staphylococcus aureus was found in 4315(63.64%). Wild-type staphylococcus aureus strains were 2133(31.46%), followed by 825(12.16%) methicillin resistant, 792(11.68%) vancomycin intermediate, and 565(8.33%) vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus strains. The isolated strains were significant (p<0.0001) for operated wounds, and non-significant (p=0.8915) for diabetic foot cases., Conclusions: The frequency of antibiotic-resistant staphylococcu saureus strains was high.

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between CO 2 emissions and its possible determinants and their direction of causality for Pakistan over the period of 1972 to 2017. The survey of literature guides us that the most frequently discussed factors are real GDP per capita, energy consumption, urbanization, trade openness, and financial development. Testing of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is the most common in environment literature so we also incorporated the real GDP per capita squared term in the model. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound testing approach to cointegration with structural break and error correction method (ECM) are applied to the selected time series to investigate the long-run relationship between CO 2 emissions and real GDP per capita, real GDP per capita squared term, energy consumption, urbanization, trade openness, and financial development. The empirical evidence confirms the cointegration among the variables and EKC holds for Pakistan support H1 of the study, which though contradictory to the previous studies conducted on Pakistan but all of previous work faces the exclusion bias and their findings were skewed. The findings also suggest that energy consumption and urbanization have a positive effect on CO 2 emissions, supporting H2 and H3. However, H4 and H5 rejected as trade openness and financial development found positively significant. Moreover, bidirectional Granger causality was exists only between CO 2 emissions and trade openness. The findings suggests that Pakistan need to settle the economic agenda of the nation through the resolution of economic controversies, energy mix need to tilt toward clean and renewable energy, and rural-urban migration need to manage for better air, water, and living.

Assessment of trace elements is inevitable to reduce stress on environment due to urbanization and industrialization. Rawalpindi, the fourth largest city of Pakistan, rapidly moving towards industrialization and has a large number of automobiles. In the present study, the urban area of Rawalpindi was divided into five parts: Gawal Mandi, Pir Wadhai, Soan Adda, Chah Sultan, and Central Ordinance Depot (COD), to determine distribution of trace elements. Soil samples were collected from 5 to 20 cm depth. After drying and sieving, samples were digested using di-acid (HNO 3 and HClO 4 at 2:1). Concentrations of heavy metals were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to reduce multidimensional space of variables and samples. Observed mean concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 164, 33.4, 295, 336, 634, 236, 1572, and 546 mg kg -1 , respectively. Mean concentrations of all the heavy metals in urban area soil were higher than the WHO permissible limits. Correlation coefficient analysis showed positive correlation among Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb, whereas no obvious correlation for Cr and Mn was found with any other heavy metal. Zn was positively correlated with Co, Ni, and Mn, whereas negative correlation was found with Cr. Results showed that Pir Wadhai and COD were the most and least contaminated parts of the city, respectively, and this is attributed to the presence and absence of heavy traffic loads and industrial effluents. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Purpose: The rate of cesarean sections has been rapidly increased in the last few decades in all the developing as well as developed countries. The rate of cesarean sections determined by the World Health Organization has been crossed by many countries, like Brazil, India, China, USA, Australia, etc. Similarly, this rate has also increased in Pakistan. The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the factors that are responsible for the rising rate of cesarean sections in Pakistan., Design/methodology/approach: These factors are categorized under medical and non-medical factors. The medical factors include the obesity of mother, age of mother, weight of the baby, umbilical cord prolapse, fetal distress, abnormal presentation, dystocia and failure to progress. The non-medical factors include financial incentives of doctors, time convenience for doctors, high tolerance to surgery, patient's preference toward cesarean section, private hospitals, public hospitals, income status of patients, rural areas, urban areas and the education of patients. To identify the critical factors, data have been collected and a multi-criteria decision-making technique, called Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory, is used., Findings: The result shows that the medical factors that are responsible for the rise in the rate of cesarean sections are umbilical cord prolapse, age of mother and obesity of mother. On the other hand, the non-medical factors that are the reasons for the increase in cesarean sections are the large number of private hospitals and the unethical acts of the doctors in these hospitals, preference of patients, and either the unavailability of doctors or poor conditions of hospitals in rural areas., Originality/value: Cesarean section is an important surgical intervention and is considered to be very essential in the cases of existing as well as potential medical problems to the mother or the baby. Cesarean section is also performed for non-medical reasons. In Pakistan, the number of private hospitals has increased and these hospitals provide good health care. However, these hospitals do not work under the rules and regulations set by the government. The doctors in private hospitals perform unnecessary cesarean sections in order to fulfill the demands of private hospital's owners. In addition to this, it is also found that, nowadays, most women prefer to give birth through cesarean section in order to eliminate the pain of normal vaginal delivery.

This study forecast future infected patients from dengue and also sought optimum solution for its prevention. Previous years' data of dengue patients was used for forecasting numbers of infected patients in 2017. The novelty of the study is the application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique in application of dengue control. We employed AHP to rank the alternative for dengue prevention using perception of general public collected via questioners from 100 respondents across Pakistan. The results show that public considered not to let the water accumulate inside their homes as the most economical, effective, efficient and less labour intensive alternative to combat dengue.

We investigated effect of farm yard manure (FYM) and compost applied to metal contaminated soil at rate of 1% (FYM-1, compost-1), 2% (FYM-2, compost-2), and 3% (FYM-3, compost-3). FYM significantly (P < 0.001) increased dry weights of shoots and roots while compost increased root dry weight compared to control. Amendments significantly increased nickel (Ni) in shoots and roots of maize except compost applied at 1%. FYM-3 and -1 caused maximum Ni in shoots (11.42 mg kg(-1)) and roots (80.92 mg kg(-1)), respectively while compost-2 caused maximum Ni (14.08 mg kg(-1)) and (163.87 mg kg(-1)) in shoots and roots, respectively. Plants grown in pots amended with FYM-2 and compost-1 contained minimum Cu (30.12 and 30.11 mg kg(-1)) in shoots, respectively. FYM-2 and compost-2 caused minimum zinc (Zn) (59.08 and 66.0 mg kg(-1)) in maize shoots, respectively. FYM-2 caused minimum Mn in maize shoots while compost increased Mn in shoots and roots compared to control. FYM and compost increased the ammonium bicarbonate diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (AB-DTPA) extractable Ni and Mn in the soil and decreased Cu and Zn. Lower remediation factors for all metals with compost indicated that compost was effective to stabilize the metals in soil compared to FYM.

Objective: To find the main cause behind pedestrian injuries and fatalities and to categorise the information on the basis of key indicators., Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan, and was based on the officially-lodged First Information Reports of roadside accidents involving pedestrians over a period of 3 years from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2010. The reports were collected from the Islamabad Police Department and relevant information was extracted on a pre-designed questionnaire having 40 kinds of variables. This study is limited only to causative factors and presentation of data according to age, gender, day and month which was analysed using simple descriptive percentage technique in SPSS 17., Results: During the period covered by the study, there were 250 reported fatal traffic accidents causing 270 fatalities. Pedestrians were involved in 141 (56%) of these accidents in which there were 144 (53.3%) fatalities. Among the fatalities, there were 114 (79%) males and 30 (21%) females. Fatal accidents on midweek Wednesday were 27 (19%) which was more than the other days of the week. The highest number of pedestrian-related fatal accidents occurred in December 19 (13.5%). Over-speeding was the major causing factor 42 (29.8%) behind the fatalities., Conclusion: Drivers are not giving the right of way to pedestrians and the pedestrians also did not use facilities like footpaths, zebra crossings etc.

Objective: To assess the frequency of Candida in cases of onychomycosis ata tertiary care facility in an urban area., Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2009 to July 2010 at the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. It involved 124 patients, who were clinically diagnosed as cases of onychomycosis with the collaboration of the hospital's Dermatology Department. The specimens were processed for the diagnosis by mycological culture using Sabouraud's dextrose agar at 25 degrees C and at 37 degrees C. Observation for growth was done periodically for 4 weeks; if growth was present, the pathogen was identified by cultural characteristics and microscopy. Descriptive statistics (with frequency and percentage) of the type of fungus and organisms were evaluated., Results: Of the 124 cases, 52 (42%) tested positive and represented the final study sample. Candida was observed in 16 (30.76%) patients., Conclusion: There was high frequency of Candida involvement in clinically diagnosed cases of onychomycosis.

Haplotype analysis of closely associated markers has proven to be a powerful tool in kinship analysis especially when X-chromosome short tandem repeats fail to resolve uncertainty in relationship analysis. Microsatellites located on the X chromosome show stronger linkage disequilibrium compared with autosomal microsatellites; hence, it is necessary to estimate the haplotype frequencies directly from population studies as linkage disequilibrium is population-specific. Here, we describe five markers residing in two clusters; cluster I harboring three STR markers DXS6801-DXS6809-DXS6789 and cluster II harboring two STR markers DXS7424-DXS101. A total of 302 male DNA samples of Pakistani descent were analyzed. Theoretically, 847 and 160 different combinations of haplotypes are possible in clusters I and II, but genotyping identified only 129 and 75 haplotypes, respectively. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was detected, except for the pair (DXS6801-DXS6789), consistent with results obtained with the cluster I in a German population. Our results demonstrate that 83% haplotypes of cluster I and 65% haplotypes of cluster II show <1% frequency in the Pakistani population. This strongly suggests that haplotypes of these two clusters provide a powerful tool for kinship testing and relationship investigations.