Eco- labeling is recognized as an effective measure to control environmental pollution by the manufacturing firms. Given the increasing global demand for eco- labeled products, this study seeks to examine its implications for Pakistan. In the first part of this study, we analyze the existing pattern of eco-labeling schemes adopted by Pakistani textile firms and evaluate the effect of eco-labeling on their environmental and economic performance. We also identify the factors influencing a textile firm’s decision to acquire an eco- label for its products. For these objectives, we use data for 128 firms from the textile industry listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2015. The results show that, out of 128 textile firms in the sample, the firms with eco- labeled products are only 32%, which include 21% exporting firms and 11% nonexporting firms. Regression results from three stage least squares (3SLS) estimator show that the textile firms with an eco- label have higher environmental and economic performance. This indicates that the adoption of eco- labels promotes the sustainable growth of the textile firms. Regression results from logit model show that a large textile firm is more likely to adopt an ecolabel relative to the medium or small firm, while an old textile firm is less likely to adopt an ecolabel relative to a new textile firm. As expected, an exporting textile firm is more likely to adopt an eco- label. The environmental performance, as well as the financial performance of the textile firm, increases the likelihood of eco- label adoption. Pakistan exports various products including textiles, apparel, food, fish, pulp, paper leather products, sports goods, cement, and other products. Pakistan’s exports account for 8.5 percent of GDP while its imports account for 19.4 percent. The increasing global demand for eco-labeled products in the international markets poses a potential risk of the exports opportunities for Pakistan. Given the importance of exports in Pakistan economy and increasing demand for eco- labeled products, in the second part of this study, we investigate the potential impact of eco- labeling on the exports of Pakistan. For this part, we use panel data of 24 industrialized trading partners of the country from 2003 to 2014. Results of the Gravity model show that the number of eco- labels in the trading partner country has a negative and significant impact on the exports of fish, food and textiles products of Pakistan. The cost of acquiring ecolabels has a negative and significant impact on the fish, food, textiles, pulp, papers, and building materials exports of Pakistan. The impressive environmental performance of the Blue Angel as a national eco- label scheme of Germany motivated other countries to introduce their own national eco-label schemes. However, there are various factors which determined a country government to introduce a national eco- label scheme. In the third part of this study, we identify the factors which determined the government to introduce a national eco-labeling scheme. For this part, we use panel data of 54 countries that are Pakistan’s trade partners from 1994 to 2014. The results of the panel logit model show that a country with high economic growth and high government integrity is more likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme. A country with a reasonable number of environmentally conscious consumers is more likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme. A country which devoted a significant share of its expenditures for research and development (R&D) is more likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme, while a country which heavily depends on exports is less likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme. A country which X exports high technology products is more likely to introduce a national eco-label scheme. A country which faces a diverse range of eco- labels in its trade partner countries is more likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme, while an economically free country is less likely to introduce a national eco- label scheme.
آہ! فرزند حبیب شبلی قفانبک من ذکریٰ حبیب و منزل نواب الحاج مولوی عبیدالرحمن خان شروانی کئی برس سے علیل تھے۔ ان کی زندگی کے معمولات میں فرق آگیا تھا، کمیٹیوں میں شرکت کے لیے سفر سے معذور ہوگئے تھے۔ بڑھاپے اور عمر طبعی کو پہنچ جانے کی وجہ سے ضعف و نقاہت میں اضافہ ہورہا تھا۔ راقم کو گذشتہ سال دو بار عیادت و زیارت کی سعادت میسر آئی تھی۔ اور دونوں دفعہ بڑھتی ہوئی کمزوری اور معذوری کو دیکھ کر خیال ہوا تھا کہ یہ چراغ سحر بجھا ہی چاہتا ہے۔ بالآخر ۸؍ مئی کو صاحبزادہ والاتبار پروفیسر ریاض الرحمن خان شروانی کے تار سے یہ المناک خبر آہی گئی جس نے پھر اس ارشاد ربانی کی ایک بار تصدیق و توثیق کردی کہ کل من علیھا فان[الرحمن: ۲۶]۔ دارالمصنفین کی بنا و تاسیس میں علامہ شبلیؒ اور ان کے متعدد اعزہ کی طرح نواب مولوی عبیدالرحمن خان شروانی کے خاندان کا بھی بڑاحصہ تھا۔ ان کے والد ماجد نواب صدر یار جنگ بہادر مولانا حبیب الرحمن خان شروانی مرحوم علامہ شبلی کے حبیب لبیب تھے۔ جب علامہ کے دل و دماغ پر دارالمصنفین ہی کا خیال چھایا رہتا تھا تو اس کے متعلق سب سے زیادہ انھی سے مراسلت و مکاتبت رہتی تھی۔ علامہ شبلی کی وفات کے بعد یہی رابط و تعلق دارالمصنفین کی جانب منتقل ہوگیا تھا جس کے مدۃ العمر وہ رکن رکین اور صدر نشین رہے، دارالمصنفین کے پہلے صدر جسٹس مولوی کرامت حسین اور دوسرے نواب عماد الملک اور تیسرے مولانا حبیب الرحمن خاں شروانی ہوئے، مولانا حمیدالدین فراہی کی وفات کے بعد ۱۹۳۱ء میں وہی اس کی مجلس ارکان کے بھی صدر بنے، دوسروں سے علامہ کے تعلقات میں اتار چڑھاؤ ہوتا رہا لیکن ایک نواب صدر یار جنگ ہی کی ایسی ذات تھی جن سے عمر بھر...
Hazrat Sayyedna Adam (A.S) was the first man and the first prophet. Both Quran and Bible reveal that he was made from clay and was housed in Heavens. There was a most complete freedom for Sayyedna Adam (A.S) except of going near a forbidden tree. Iblees conducted an evil plan and tempted him to taste the fruit of the tree. This let to his descent on Earth. This study attempts to make a comparative analysis of Hazrat Sayyedna Adam (A.S)‘s Incident as mentioned in the Quran and the Bible.
Background: Fibroids are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus common in women of reproductive age. The prevalence is thought to be higher amongst women over the age of 35 years and in African women. More women are delaying their child bearing leading to an increase in the number of women dealing with pregnancy in the context of fibroids. The relationship between pregnancy and fibroids is controversial. It is thought that pregnancy exerts a protective effect, an observation made from epidemiological and animal studies. Although the mechanism is not clear, the postpartum period is thought to possibly explain this benefit. There have been few studies on this effect and none focusing on a population of purely black African women. Study objective: To characterise prospectively the postpartum effect on uterine fibroid volume in black African women by comparing volumes in 3rd trimester and at the end of the pueperium. Design: A descriptive longitudinal sonographic study of fibroid volumes between 3rd trimester and at the end of the pueperium, using 2D ultrasound. Methods: The study setting was the Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi Kenya, a private tertiary and teaching hospital. Pregnant black African women with uterine fibroids in their current pregnancy were enrolled into the study. They had a 2D ultrasound measurement of their fibroids in the third trimester (28-39 weeks) and a repeat at the end of the pueperium (median 6 weeks after delivery). The number, location and type of fibroid was indicated and volumes calculated using the formula; volume (ml) = 4/3 π a x b x c. Through a questionnaire, participants were asked about pregnancy and delivery complications, that is, pain, spotting, preterm labour, postpartum haemorrhage and preterm premature rupture of membranes. The primary outcome was the volume change over the study period and secondary outcomes were descriptions of patient and fibroid characteristics as well as pregnancy complications. Results: Data on 36 subjects with a mean age of 31.6 years were analysed. Taking a volume change of >10% to be significant, the study demonstrated that 83.33% (95% CI 71.15 - 95.51) of the fibroids reduced in size (P=<0.0001), out of which 8% were undetectable. There was no significant change in 8% and 8% showed an increase. Most fibroids were intramural (89%) followed by subserosal (11%). None of the participants had fibroids in other locations. Of the participants, 58% were primiparous and 42% were multiparous. Majority of the patients did