Exploring the Prevalence of Long-Covid and its Factors among Post-Covid Survivors of Karachi

Long COVID or post-COVID problems are long-term effects of COVID-19 infection that certain people who have contracted the virus can experience. This may result in having persistent symptoms for 3 months or more, such as those who had tiredness, malaise, changed smell and taste, dyspnea, and cognitive deficits three or more months after their initial COVID-19 diagnosis. However, some people may still have inferior work performance and a lower quality of life due to the long COVID episodes. From October 2021 to April 2022, cross-sectional research was conducted in Karachi, utilizing an electronic questionnaire to record sociodemographic data, current comorbidities, and previous episodes of acute COVID-19, post-COVID symptoms, and job performance among COVID survivors. The study's findings revealed that more than 35% of individuals surveyed claimed to have had COVID symptoms for six weeks or more, with approximately 20% to 30% of those reporting frequent coughing and appetite loss. Planning prevention, rehabilitation, and clinical treatment need an awareness of long-term COVID and its related components in order to maximize recovery and long-term COVID-19 outcomes.   DOI: https: //doi. Org/10.59564/amrj/01.01/007

Cost efficiency of Pakistani banks: a stochastic frontier analysis

Since the 1990s, Pakistan's banking sector has undergone measured and noteworthy reforms. The purpose of these reforms was to build a reliable and competitive banking system to improve efficiency and dependability. To assess and evaluate cost efficiency of Pakistani banks, this research uses parametric stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). The study is conducted for the period of 1998 to 2010; a period immediately following the enactment of the financial reforms in the banking sector. And in this study we compare a number of specifications of SFA model to establish the desired frontier efficiency model. x The study shows that the one stage Hicks-neutral SFA model performs better than any other specifications tested. This SFA specification consisted of inPfts, outputs, control variables and generalized banking characteristics in the cost. Based on our SFA model, the cost efficiency of Pakistani banks is averaged to be 80%, over the period from 1998 until 2010. Over the same period, the structural reforms had a positive impact on Pakistani banking efficiency. Our findings show that Islamic banks and domestic private banks are more efficient than state-owned banks. Similar results were reported by Patti and Hardy (2005); Rizvi (2001), Matthews (2010) and Burki and Ahmad (2010). Furthermore, analysis suggests that differences in cost efficiency of Islamic banks in comparison to conventional banks is not statistically significant. In order to enhance Pakistani banking efficiency further, the State Bank of Pakistan should initiate better risk management policies. Furthermore, enhanced corporate governance and competition among banks could lead to an increased efficiency