Determining the Occupational Health and Safety of Workers in The Food Manufacturing Sector of Pakistan

Background: For organizations, conducting work in a safe environment has become mandatory under the provisions and guidelines provided by international and local laws. Occupational health and safety (OHS) standards have become a requisite in almost every industry these days; however, many organizations in developing countries are negligent at adhering to the safety measures, and there is also an absence of proper monitoring. Objective: Our objective was to determine the occupational health and safety standards that are prevailing in the food manufacturing sector of Pakistan. For this, we approached several food manufacturing companies and conducted interviews with quality assurance managers and health and safety executives to evaluate and analyze the workplace conditions to understand their OHS practices. Methods: We conducted 7 interviews with quality assurance managers in the food manufacturing and services companies of Pakistan. The interview guide was used for eliciting responses and a coding method was used to arrive at the themes of the data gathered. Results: The interviews conducted with quality assurance managers and those working to ensure that safety measures are practiced in their company, showed that the export-oriented food manufacturing companies in Pakistan are following OHS standards, as it has become a necessity, with numerous benefits such as ensuring worker safety, maintaining company reputation. However, the extent to which these measures are implemented and strictly followed varies, as there are certain issues that arise when companies try to follow and implement OHS practices The problems vary from company to company however, most of them relate to worker adaptability, costs, and training needs.  OHS situation in local firms is concerning. Most of them do not have HSE officers, not the concept of toolbox talk, no preventive and safety measures.  These poor practices make the situation unsafe, which lead to fatalities Conclusion: By establishing a national framework for policies and legislations as per the conventions of ILO for a better workplace environment along with proper law enforcement improvement in occupational health and safety domain can be achieved.      

Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy: A Case of India and Pakistan Relations 2000-2014

Chinese Foreign policy is of vital importance in the South Asian region which in turn carries highly significant prominence in defining the course of events that affect the contours of international political order. The strategic importance of the region centers on the fact that it is the gateway to the Indian Ocean which is known as the energy jugular of global trade.The changing political dynamics of South Asia particularly in relation with Pakistan and India, the two major nuclear capable actors, are also significant. In order to assess the foreign policy of China with two regional rivals a constructivist analysis is undertaken based on a rational actor model. A comparative rational analysis based on the five principles of coexistence i.e., respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other‘s domestic affairs, equality and mutual cooperation is formulated along with strategic and economic policies of China towards India and Pakistan. This dissertation also analyzes the foreign policy of these actors namely China, Pakistan and India, to asses paradigm shifts in policy from 2000 to 2014. The thesis highlights changing trends on various economic and military levels to understand foreign policy.