Home > Regional Integration and Liberal Economic Order in Saarc: A Case Study of Trade Relations Between Pakistan and India under Safta Regime 1997-2015
Regional Integration and Liberal Economic Order in Saarc: A Case Study of Trade Relations Between Pakistan and India under Safta Regime 1997-2015
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with the aim to accelerate economic growth and social progress in the region. It was assumed by the proponents of SAARC that wealthier South Asia would be peaceful and powerful politicoeconomic entity, because increase in wealth and economic cooperation among states would improve human development index and decrease intra state political conflictsin South Asia. SAARC initiated trade liberalization policies since 1994 when SAARC preferential trade agreement was signed. Though the scope of trade liberalization was limited in the purview of SAPTA due to its positive list approach to intraregional trade, yet it paved the way for SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA). The establishment of SAFTA in 2004, boosted up the morale of SAARC and it started to visualize complete economic integration in South Asia in near future. However, SAFTA have not meet to its expected results and volume of intraregional trade is still low and the goal of wealthier South Asia is still far away. In this context, this study is outlined to analyze the liberal economic dimension of SAARC. It highlights the evolutionary process of trade liberalization in the region of South Asia and analytically evaluates the contribution of SAARC towards economic integration of South Asia. In addition it highlights the international economic scenario in which the establishment of Free Trade Area had become desirable for SAARC member countries. For this purpose, the study emphasizes on three major research questions; why the liberal economic practices are desirable in SAARC? Why SAFTA has not been fully implemented yet? And what are the major hindrances in the establishment of Free Trade regime in SAARC? To evaluate the effectiveness of SAFTA, study emphasizes on the Pakistan – India trade relations under SAFTA regime for in-depth analysis. This part of the study uses comparative approach. It includes a comparison between overall economic structure of Pakistan and India and comparison of bilateral trade trend between India and Pakistan before and after SAFTA through using statistical data. Further it covers all economic and noneconomic hindrances to bilateral trade between Pakistan and India. During the study, primary data is collected through structured survey and open ended interviews from stakeholders. For static analysis, data is gathered from internationally recognized databases of World Bank, UNTACD, WTO and World Economic Forum. The study finds out that regional integration without trade liberalization is impossible. SAARC is working on the agenda of economic integration in South Asia through its apex body, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry; though the process of integration is slow but it is steady. In the age of globally integrated trading system, protectionism will no more a good choice to protect domestic industries. South Asian countries will have to reform their domestic macro-economic policies for implementing trade competitiveness measures in their respective states. Regional connectivity and trade facilitation measures under SAFTA has boosted up the foreign direct investment to South Asia. Further, this study finds out that power asymmetries in SAARC have make the process of trade liberalization slow, India will has to reconsider its role in SAARC as through showing its hard and soft power, it has disrupt the trade negotiation process on the platform ofSAARC on many occasions. However, the study contributes to understand the relation between regional integration and liberal economic order in the purview of SAARC.
اعلی مرتبہ پر آدمی تین مختلف طرح سے ملازم ہوتے ہیں؛ ریاست ، شہرت اور کام کے غلام ۔ پس ان کے لیے آزادی نہیں ہوتی نہ ہی ان کی ذات میں ، نہ ان کے اعمال میں اور نہ ہی ان کے اوقات کار میں ، یہ نہایت ہی عجیب خواہش ہے کہ طاقت حاصل کی جائے اور آزادی کو کھو دیا جائے ۔ یا پھر دوسرے لوگوں پر طاقت حاصل کی جائے اور اپنے آپ پر طاقت کھو دی جائے۔ کسی مقام سے اوپر جانا بڑا مشقت طلب کام ہے۔ اور چھوٹی مشکلات سے آدمیوں کو بڑی مشکلات کا سامنا کرنا پڑ سکتا ہے ۔ اور ان میں سے بعض تو بڑی گھٹیا اور توہین آمیز ہوتی ہیں اور آدمی کو ذلالت کی گھاٹیوں سے نکال کر عظمتوں کی بلندیوں تک لے جاتی ہیں۔ مرتبہ کی بلندی پر پہنچنے کے بعد انسان غیر یقینی صورتحال سے دوچار ہو جاتا ہے ۔ جبکہ اگر وہ نیچے کی طرف جات ہے تو تباہی و بربادی کے سوا کوئی چارہ نہیں۔ یا کم از کم گرہن جو کہ ایک غمناک چیز ہے۔ جب کہ یہ آپ کے پاس زیادہ دیر تک زندہ رہنے کی خواہش کی وجہ نہیں ہے۔ نہیں! ریٹائرڈ آدمی نہیں کر سکتے ۔ جب وہ کریں گے ، نہ ہی وہ کریں گے جب کہ اس کی معقول وجہ ہوگی لیکن وہ علیحدگی کو برداشت نہیں کر سکتے۔ حتیٰ کہ بڑھاپے اور بیماری میں جس کو سہارے کی ضرورت ہوتی ہے۔ جیسا کہ قصبے کے بوڑھے آدمی ہمیشہ اپنی گلی کے دروازے پر بیٹھے ہوں گے تاکہ ان کے بڑھاپے کا تمسخر اڑایا جائے۔ یقیناً بڑے آدمیوں کو ضرورت ہوتی ہے کہ وہ اپنے آپ کو خوش کرنے کے لیے دوسرے لوگوں کی رائے کا احترام کریں ۔ کیونکہ اگر وہ خود اپنے جذبات کا...
Allah has made the man as his caliph on earth and created the natural resources of the universe for the sake of human beings. Due to advancement of industrialization the natural resources and environment have been threatened while the environmental pollution has become an international challenge in modern times. Some of the guiding principles mentioned in the Sirat-un-Nabiﷺ are helpful in basic guidance of humanity, such as the prohibition of extravagance and oppression, the gratitude for divine blessings, the observance of the rights of worship, and so on. However, there are certain rules and decrees that provide specific guidelines for the protection and proper use of certain natural resources, such as water, trees, agriculture, forests, wind, etc. That some of them have been ordered to perform their duties, Such as the commands to plant trees, to keep water clean, to cultivate, to raise animals and to be gentle with them, etc. Such as prohibitions of cutting down trees unnecessarily, of polluting water, of spoiling fields, and the prohibition of cruelty to animals, etc. In this study, these demands have been explained in some detail in the light of Quran and Hadiths.
Key Words: Environment, Pollution, Responsibilities, Sirat -un-Nabiﷺ
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a collection of different health care system. The interest in CAM is increasing day by day. Homeopathy is an important system in CAM and used in various developed countries. In several countries homeopathic remedies are used in an integrated manner with conventional medicines. Homeopathic remedies are used in treatment of many acute and chronic illnesses. Argentum nitricum, Ignatia amara and Staphysagria are the classical remedies used in homeopathic system for treatment of patients who showed neurological anxiety-like symptoms or depression. For this purpose in the present research study homeopathic remedies Argentum nitricum, Staphysagria and Ignatia amara were being assessed to determine their neurobehavioral effects in experimental model. After animal experimentation through different neurobehavioral analysis for example head dip, cage crossings, light and dark test, open field test, forced swim test, we observed Argentum nitricum and Ignatia amara shows profound anxiolytic profile. Staphysagria showed anti-depressant activity along with anxiolytic action. The effect of three homeopathic remedies on memory was also analyzed. Argentum nitricum impaired memory but the deficit in memory is better than standard drug, Staphysagria and Ignatia amara improved cognition and memory, among these two remedies Ignatia amara possess better effect on memory. The body weight was found to be decreased by all three remedies; Staphysagria decreased body weight more than the other two remedies and the effect was significant on day 60th. We studied the analgesic effects of all three preparations. Our results indicate that all the three drugs have shown analgesic property as compared to control but the levels of analgesia were different. As per our finding Argentum nitricum is the most potent analgesic and could be effective in neuropathic pain. We also studied the anti-inflammatory effects of all three preparations. We found that all the three drugs have shown anti-inflammatory effects. Argentum nitricum possess highly significant anti-inflammatory effect, the duration of action persist for three hours. Staphysagria and Ignatia amara has anti-inflammatory remedy up to two hours as compared to control as well as standard. So among these three Argentum nitricum have potent anti-inflammatory action as compared to Staphysagria and Ignatia amara. The effect on hematological parameters showed that all remedies had improved hematological profile. Among them Argentum nitricum showed better results as compared to other two remedies. Present study suggests that Argentum nitricum can induce thrombosis on chronic use. It is therefore suggested that periodic monitoring of PT, aPTT should be conducted in order to refrain from this effect of Argentum nitricum. Staphysagria may also possess this effect but the intensity is less significant as compared to Argentum nitricum. Ignatia amara showed decrease in fibrinogen level and increase in PT, INR and aPTT which can predispose the patient towards bleeding. All three remedies decreased blood glucose levels after 30 days of dosing. In our study it was found that Ignatia amara is a better choice for special population of diabetic patients suffering from anxiety also. The effects on liver were observed. In our study we have observed that Argentum nitricum developed cyst in the liver hence it is recommended to administer the remedy in low or intermittent dosing along with periodic monitoring of liver enzyme. Ignatia amara increased direct bilirubin that requires close monitoring in patients kept on this remedy. As Argentum nitricum affects liver enzymes due to which the TG and VLDL-C levels were increased, so close monitoring of lipid profile is recommended to avoid any cardiovascular events.Staphysagria and Ignatia amara possess a safer lipid profile. All the three remedies had shown no signs of nephrotoxicity. Hence they are safe to be used in patients with compromised renal function.