The Social and Financial Performance of Conventional and Islamic Microfinance Institutions in Pakistan

The financing operations of conventional microfinance institutions are usually based on interest (Usury/Riba) which is strictly prohibited by the Shariah of Islam, therefore, some Islamic microfinance institutions were set up in Pakistan to provide micro credit and other financial help to the deserving people based on Shariah compliant mechanism. The aim of this paper is to evaluate and compare the social and financial performance of these microfinance institutions in Pakistan. Two separate samples containing two microfinance institutions each, representing conventional and Islamic microfinance institutions has been selected for this study. Four stars, Wasil Foundation and Akhuwat from Islamic microfinance institutions while Asasah and Community Support Concern (CSC) from conventional microfinance institutions, rated by Mix market have been selected for this research paper. The social and financial performance based on outreach, profitability, efficiency/productivity, and portfolio quality of both these microfinance institutions were studied and compared. The study revealed that Islamic MFIs were more cost effective compared to conventional MFIs based on cost per borrower (CPB) and operating expenses to assets (OEA), while on the basis of financial efficiency conventional MFIs performed well. Though the financial and social performance of both Islamic and conventional MFIs have improved over the passage of time, still they have to struggle hard on various fronts especially to improve their profitability based on ROA and ROE measures to make the institutions profitable and sustainable. This study reveals that the successful operation of Akhuwat and Wasil Foundation for the last more than a decade latterly proves that Islamic MFIs are viable and sustainable even in the absence of charging interest from their clients. So, the society and the government should encourage and promote these Shariah compliant organizations in order to help the extremely marginalized people of the society.

Anthropometric and Physiological Parameters of High and Low Performance of Male Badminton Players: An Analytical Study of Sindh Province .

The ultimate concern of high performance sport in the final performance whether it is while training or at the competition. The final output observed is dependent on a complexity of factors. Performance level can be enhanced if the physical education teacher and coach more completely comprehend the structure and function of skeletal muscles. It can be analyzed by studying the size; shape and form of an individual and for this purpose, a set of selected anthropometric measurements and physiological parameters are taken on an individual. A desired relationship between any two parameters may play a positive role in performance. Numerous factors are responsible for the performance of badminton players. Fundamental skills of badminton like serving (low serve, drive serve, high serves and flick serves), lifts, smashing and blocking, requires a specific type of physique having specific proportions with certain conditional abilities, which can be seen in physiological variables such as vital capacity, heart rate, blood pressure and resting breathing frequency. The objective of present research work is to assess the anthropometrical and physiological differences existing in the high and low performance level of male badminton players belonging to Sindh province. Physical Education teachers and coaches are concerned at times with team selection as well as the training and preparation of the players for competitions. Their job as such demands a pertinent knowledge of the game concerned as well as the techniques and tactics in relation to that game along with an understanding of the anthropometrical and physiological variables, which form the basis of good techniques and tactics. Therefore, the study will be of significance in extending the horizon of knowledge in the field of Badminton. For present study National and all Pakistan Intervarsity level players are considered as High Performers while District, Region and Collegiate level Players are considered as Low Performers. A total of 60 subjects (30 from each category that is high & low performance Badminton players) were selected randomly from six districts of Sindh province such as, District Hyderabad, District Sukkur, District Khairpur, District Mirpurkhas and two Districts from Karachi (District South and District Malir). The findings of the study done on 60 subjects (30 High performance players and 30 Low performance players) revealed significant differences in the following variables of high and low performance Badminton players of Sindh. The anthropometrical parameters that were greater in high performance players are as follow: The mean weight (4.81) lower arm length (2.90), lower leg length (7.21), foot length (2.24), bicep muscle firth (6.76), calf muscle girth (4.74), vital capacity (5.55), mesomorphy (13.45),sitting height-stature index (13.45), thigh length (5.72), upper arm length – lower arm length index (2.26), hip width – stature index (8.37), shoulder width – stature index (5.15), hand length – wrist width index (4.06). The anthropometrical parameters that were lesser in high performance players are as follows: The mean hand length (2.23), shoulder width (4.34), hip width (7.47), biceps skin fold (18.90), heart rate (7.69), blood pressure systolic (9.18), blood pressure diastolic (9.12), resting breathing frequency (21.40). Present study concludes that high performance badminton players were greater than low performance badminton players in weight, lower arm length, lower leg length, foot length, vital capacity. The study also revealed that low performance badminton players were greater in biceps skin fold, heart rate, blood pressure systolic, blood pressure diastolic, resting breathing frequency, sitting height – stature index, thigh length – lower leg length index, upper arm – lower arm length index than high performance Badminton players of Sindh.