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The present study analyzed household food consumption expenditure pattern across the four provinces of Pakistan. The study used Household Integrated Income and Expenditure Survey (HIIES) 2018. Food is categorized into eight groups: wheat’s flour, dairy, rice, pulses, meats, ghee-oil, fruits-vegetables, and other foods. The study has used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compute the F-statistics to find out whether there are significant changes in mean exists in food consumption expenditure of the four provinces. The study explored the dietary diversity by looking into the eight categories of food by calculating household’s average monthly consumption expenditure for the eight food groups, average monthly shares of each food group and average monthly food quantity consumed. Results indicate that the proportions of expenditure on wheat flour and dairy are high. On the other hand, expenditure on rice and pulses were very small. The comparison results indicate that among the household’s food expenditure patterns dietary diversity exist across the provinces. However, households in KP and Baluchistan are more inclined to consume a larger proportion of their consumption expenditure on wheat and flour whereas Punjab and Sindh for pulses and ghee/oil. To meet the dietary diversity ingredients, all the provinces particularly KP and Baluchistan diversity their food consumption expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of total quality management (TQM) on patient satisfaction (PS). In addition to this mediating role of perceived service quality (PSQ) for the same has also been studied. The data has been analyzed using regression and correlation analysis on the primary data collected through a close-ended questionnaire. The data from 154 patients in different hospitals in Rawalpindi have been collected by filling up the online Google form. All the items in the questionnaire were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Results of the study indicated an insignificant relationship between total quality management and patient satisfaction. Furthermore, the significant indirect effect of TQM on PS through the mediating role of PSQ further supports the hypothesis. On the basis of the findings of this study, it is suggested that healthcare managers should opt for oriented management strategies for patient satisfaction. Good quality healthcare services result in boosting patient satisfaction. Additionally, to meet the patient's expectations both the technical as well as functional competencies of the healthcare service providers ought to be enhanced. The contribution of this study is the establishment of the indirect effect of total quality management on patient satisfaction through the mediating effect of perceived service quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken for measuring the economic impact of the COVID-19 on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) with reference to District Swat. The Primary data was collected from all of the Tehsils of District Swat using a structured questionnaire. For this purpose a sample of 86 SMEs (20%) from all the manufacturing as well as services sector was selected. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics for selected variables through SPSS. According to the findings, majority of the enterprises faced financial issues for retaining their businesses after COVID-19 lockdown. Majority of the SMEs are owned by moderate level of educated people lacking business education and professionalism. Moreover, during COVID-19 SMEs were negatively affected in term of revenues, expenses and profit. In addition, SMEs were also having debt issues which elevated due to COVID-19 lockdown, resulting in taking loans through traditional mechanism to retain their businesses. Government relief programme was also believed as not sustainable/satisfactory by the significant portion during this period. While humanitarian support from landlords in term of rents waive-off was appreciated. Keeping in view its potential, this sector needs to be boosted through professional trainings on financial, management, leadership and other soft skills training program. Furthermore, relief by government support in term additional relief package and free interest loans are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart-from providing food to the massive population, agriculture sector contributes a big share to South Asian GDP and it also provides employment to the fast-growing population. Examining the sources of agriculture productivity has not attained much importance related to SAARC countries. Moreover, the studies on the role of agriculture productivity in case of the South Asian region are limited to individual countries. Due to the important role of agriculture productivity in the world's economy, it is imperative to analyze the sources of agriculture productivity of the SAARC countries. This endeavor examines the impact of financial development on agricultural productivity in case of SAARC countries for the period of 1996 to 2019. Moreover, this study introduces trade openness, human capital, and income as important control variables of agriculture value-added. To serve this purpose, this study utilizes CS-ARDL approach. The results of long-run estimates show that financial development, income, trade openness and human capital are important factors explaining agricultural productivity. Moreover, the study finds an inverted-U shaped nexus between financial development and agriculture productivity. The results of this study have great policy implications for SAARC countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer networks serve as the backbone of modern-day information and communications technologies. These networks have no physical boundaries that contain important data and information critical to any state's national security, which is vulnerable to cyber-attacks in the digital domain. This dilemma gives birth to the term cyber-warfare and it is one of the most critical security issues in present-day world. Huge investments are being done by the countries to use it as an offensive tool vis-à-vis they are also trying to build a steady force for the protection of their cyber-space. Cyber-Warfare poses a much complex and dangerous threat to the National security of Pakistan in the era of hybrid-warfare. This paper aimed to explain, what kind of threat does Pakistan faces in the domain of cyber-warfare and what effective measures Pakistan should take against such threats. This paper is based on deductive reasoning from the experiences of other nations to chart out a way forward for the National cyber policy of Pakistan as Pakistan is indeed developing with an effective speed in the field of information and communication technology, but the security aspects are not focused upon, which exposes a major unregulated domain of cyber-space to cyber-attacks, which can undermine the national security of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]