The study, which primarily aimed at analyzing the European Union’s imports from Pakistan, finds that there exists a strong correlation between the EU’s total textiles and clothing imports and her imports from Pakistan. Same is true as far as the various categories of 26, 65 and 84 in textiles and clothing imports are concerned. Pakistan’s performance seems satisfactory especially in case of 26-category textiles, while the imports of 65-category and 84-category textiles need improvement. It is good for Pakistan that her rates of growth in 65 and 84 categories of textiles imports by the EU are relatively higher than the EU’s own total imports. Pakistan needs to maintain not only its present growth rates but she should also make efforts to get more shares, especially in 65 and 84 category textiles in EU market, as these two category belong to value added textiles. The study identifies 45, 217 and 94 the EU’s preferred 5-digit textile and clothing products, and reveals that eight Pakistani 5-digit 26-category products (with SITC codes 26339, 26310, 26902, 26490, 26721, 26901, 26652 and 26711) have attained positions in the EU’s first 20 preferred products list, while remaining 12 the EU’s preferred products have fallen into Pakistan’s relatively less preferred products list. In case of 217 5-digit 65-category products, only 14 Pakistani products (65843, 65841, 65842, 65221, 65847, 65234, 65133, 65243, 65851, 65232, 65242, 65184, 65892, and 65859) have got positions in the EU’s first 50 preferred products list. In case of the EU’s preferred 5-digit 84-category textiles products, only three Pakistani products (84140, 84629 and 84371) have attained positions in the EU’s first 20 preferred products list. These facts warrant attention of Pakistan’s textiles and clothing manufacturer, exporters and policy makers for improving quality for meeting the EU’s standards. The study finds that the EU has imposed different levels of tariffs based on the primary commodities, semi-processed and processed products, and these rates are enhanced along with the levels of processing of the products, and Pakistan is adversely suffering because of the stated the EU’s policy. In addition, the EU has put various countries in three different schemes of Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) namely, standard GSP arrangements, GSP + and EBA. Pakistan imports to the EU are presently facing general GSP arrangements, and is not benefiting from the other two relatively more beneficial schemes, presently available to a number of Pakistan’s competitors in textiles. Pakistan understands that her imports to the EU are subject to a number of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) including various standard procedures set under WTOs agreements in the disciplines of government procurement, services, investment, trade facilitation, trade defence, standards, intellectual property rights, competition policy, and rules of origin. From Pakistan’s point of view, if the EU goes for having FTAs with some of Pakistani viicompetitors, then Pakistan would face serious adverse effects due especially to the WTO related standard procedures. Based on findings of the study and conclusions drawn, this study forwards certain recommendations. Study finds Pakistan’s performance especially in cases of 26 and 65-category textiles satisfactory, and recommends that the imports of 84-category textiles from Pakistan to the EU should also be given priority, being the value added products. In case of the individual major categories (26, 65 & 84), the following 5-digit products, being the EU’s most preferred products, should be given priority, in particular. (a) The eight Pakistani 5-digit 26-category products (SITC codes: 26339, 26310, 26902, 26490, 26721, 26901, 26652 and 26711) have attained positions in EU’s first 20 preferred products list, while remaining 12 the EU’s preferred products (Table 4.30a) have fallen into Pakistan’s relatively less preferred products list; Pakistan should improve the quality of these products to attain better position in the EU’s 5-digit 26-category market. (b) In case of 217 5-digit 65-category products, only 14 Pakistani products (65843, 65841, 65842, 65221, 65847, 65234, 65133, 65243, 65851, 65232, 65242, 65184, 65892, and 65859) have got positions in the EU’s first 50 preferred products list; the remaining 36 the EU’s first category preferred products (Table 4.31a) should now be having attention of Pakistani stakeholders. (c) In case of the EU’s preferred 5-digit 84-category textiles products, only three Pakistani products (84140, 84629 and 84371) have attained positions in the EU’s first 20 preferred products list; the remaining 17 products (Table 4.32a) should be given attention for a greater value-added import of the EU from Pakistan. (d) Policy makers of the EU and Pakistan should take note of the fact that the EU policy of tariff escalation is discouraging value-addition textile trade from Pakistan. They should also take care of the concern that the EU has put Pakistan at disadvantage, comparing to its competitors, by putting Pakistan in the Generalised System of Preferences (standard GSP arrangements), and some of her serious competitors in more advantageous GSP + and EBA schemes. The EU’s officials and their Pakistani counterparts should also settle the problem of the existence of various non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and especially the affairs relating to the adoption of various standard procedures set under WTOs agreements in the disciplines of government procurement, trade in services, investment, trade facilitation, trade defence, products and processes quality standards, intellectual property rights, competition policy, and rules of origin. The EU should particularly be careful while going to have FTAs with some of Pakistan’s competitors as Pakistan would face serious adverse effects due especially to the non- or partial-adoption of the stated WTO related standard procedures. Pakistani stakeholders, especially the government, should take appropriate steps for an early and extensive adoption of WTO agreements and related standards and standard procedures. (e) Pakistani stakeholders (manufacturers, exporters and policy makers) would have to adopt the required and up-to-date quality standards (relating to the product, process and packing) while keeping costs under control. Government of Pakistan in particular should take arrangements for having inflation in control and making availability of inputs and resources ensured.
هدفت الدراسة إلى التعرف على الدور الوسيط للإبداع الإداري في العلاقة بين التسويق الإلكتروني وجودة الخدمات المصرفية على البنوك التجارية العاملة بالمملكة العربية السعودية (الراجحي، العربي، ساب). وتمثلت مشكلة الدراسة في السؤال الرئيس التالي: هل الإبداع الإداري يتوسط العلاقة بين التسويق الإلكتروني وجودة الخدمات المصرفية بالبنوك التجارية العاملة بالمملكة العربية السعودية (الراجحي، العربي، ساب) ؟ استخدم المنهج الوصفي، تم استخدام اسلوب الحصر الشامل، وصممت استبانة لجمع البيانات، تم بناء نموذج الدراسة وفرضياته اعتماداً على أدبيات الدارسة. تم توزيع عدد 205 استبانة، حيث بلغت نسبة البيانات الصالحة للتحليل 100%. وكذلك تم الاعتماد على نمذجة المعادلة البنائية (SEM) وفيها استخدم برنامج Amos)) وتم استخدام اختبار ألفا كرونباخ للاعتمادية واستخدام أسلوب تحليل المسار لاختبار فرضيات الدارسة. توصلت الدراسة الي وجود توسط جزئي للإبداع الإداري في العلاقة بين التسويق الإلكتروني وجودة الخدمات المصرفية. اوصت الدراسة بان على المصارف التجارية الاهتمام بالإبداع الإداري ودعم العاملين لتقديم الأفكار الجديدة وتطوير العمل بتلقائية ويسر. وضرورة ان تقدم المصارف خدمات مصرفية ترضى العملاء. الكلمات المفتاحية: التسويق الإلكتروني، الترويج، الإبداع الإداري، المصارف.
The main focus of this PhD research project is the isolation, structure elucidation and bioassay of steroidal alkaloids of medicinally important plant Sarcococca saligna, belongs to Buxaceae family. Five compounds were isolated from the chloroform fraction of S.saligna through phytochemical investigation i.e. Alkaloid-C (1), Dictyophlebine (2), Sarcovagine-D (3), Saracodine (4) and Holaphylline (5). The structure of compounds was determined through modern spectroscopic techniuqes. These steroidal alkaloids were then screened for various In-vivo biological assays such as hepatoprotective and antidiabetic, while also tested In-vitro biological activities such as immunosuppresent, antibacterial, antifungal, phtotoxicity, insecticidal, cytotoxicity and leshmanicidal activity. The compounds were also investigated as steroidal aromatase inhibitors through molecular docking studies against breast cancer. The selected steroidal alkaloids were screened for In-vivo hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. The compounds 1, 3 and 5 markedly decreased hepatic injury by CCl4-injury inducer and mixed inflammatory penetration. Therefore, we explored and suggest that steroidal alkaloids from S.saligna could be excellent hepatoprotective agents. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were also tested for the antidiabetic potential and the result showed that compounds 3 and 5 reduced the glucose level significantly in blood and also make better others diabetes associated complications. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were screened for In-vitro biological assays. Compound 1, 3 and 5 were screened for immunosuppressant activity. Compounds showed inhibitory activities of T-cell proliferation in the range of 78 to 95% and also inhibit IL-2 production which means the tested compounds were excellent immunosuppressive agents. The compounds 2, 3 and 5 were screened for antibacterial activity. The compound 2 showed significant antibacterial activity against S.aureus (79%). The compound 3 showed significant antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa (79%), while compound 5 showed good antibacterial activity against B.subtilus (72%) and P.aeruginosa (69%) respectively. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were screened for antifungal activity against various pathogenic fungi and showed low to moderate antifungal actions. Compounds 1 and 3 showed low antifungal activity while compound 5 showed moderate antifungal activity against selected pathogenic fungi. The selected steroidal alkaloids were also screened for antileshmanial activity. Compounds 4 showed moderate antileshmainal activity while compound 5 showed significant inhibition against the promastigotes of L. tropica. The phytotoxic effect of compound 5 was observed maximum 66%, while 1 and 2 showed low activity at different concentration level. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were tested for insecticidal activity and among them compound 5 showed maximum activity 65% against T.castaneum, while showed low activity against R.dominica and C.analis (20% and 10%) respectively. The selected steroidal alkaloids were screened for antioxidant actions in which compounds 3 and 5 showed significant antioxidant actions and radical scavenging activity increased up to 78% and 80%. The isolated compounds were also screened for anticancer activity in which compound 2 found to be more active with IC50 value 6.13±0.345, while compound 1 showed moderate anticancer activity with IC50 values 12.98±0.235 against HeLa cells lines. The compounds were to explore as a new steroidal aromatase inhibitors through molecular docking studies in which compound 5 and 1 were active against aromatase enzyme in breast cancer could provide new lead compounds.