Pakistani Cities Research Articles

The quality of psychosocial health and psychosocial illness among women with and without shelter homes: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundExisting research on the psychosocial wellbeing of sheltered women is primarily from Western contexts, with limited studies from collectivistic cultures like Pakistan. This study aims to compare the psychosocial health and illness of sheltered women in Pakistan with those of women living with their families.MethodsA total of 184 sheltered women and 207 women from the general population from four Pakistani cities participated in this study. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Psychosocial Health Evaluator and the Sukoon Psychosocial Illness Scale. The study employed independent sample t-tests, simple linear regression and Pearson correlation.ResultsThe study revealed significant differences between women residing in shelters and those in the general population. Sheltered women exhibited lower levels of psychosocial health and higher levels of psychosocial illness. Emotional, sexual, spiritual, and social health were notably lower among sheltered women. Sheltered women also reported elevated levels of psychosocial problems, including emotional, social, and professional difficulties. Additionally, the length of stay in shelters was negatively correlated with psychosocial health and positively correlated with psychosocial illness, while education showed a positive correlation with psychosocial health.ConclusionThe current research highlights the psychosocial vulnerability of women residing in shelter homes. Government, non-governmental organizations, and mental health professionals are advised to work together to uplift the psychosocial health of women residing in Pakistani shelter homes. Appointments of psychological counselors in shelter homes are highly recommended in this regard.

Parental Perception of Vulnerability, Child’s Temperament, and Health Locus of Control: Who Made You Boo-Boo?

Background: In Pakistan, where unintentional injuries among toddlers pose a significant public health challenge, understanding the factors that contribute to elevated injury risks is crucial. A two-dimensional approach including parental factors (internal/external health locus of control and perceived vulnerability) and child factors (the child’s temperament) is explored as contributing to the unintentional injury behaviors of toddlers. Method: The study involved 241 parents of toddlers aged 18–36 months from daycare centers in three major Pakistani cities who had observed multiple recent injuries in their children. The comprehensive online assessment, lasting 15–20 minutes, incorporated the child vulnerability scale, injury behavior checklist, parent health locus of control questionnaire, and early childhood behavior questionnaire. Demographic details included child and parent age distributions, with a focus on educational backgrounds. The participants comprised both fathers and mothers, and the data analysis employed Smart-PLS software for structural equation modeling. Result: The results suggested there is no direct relationship between parental health locus of control (internal/external) and injury behaviors in children. However, an indirect and significant path was observed from the parental health locus of control (internal/external) to perceived child vulnerability and injury behaviors through moderation of temperamental characteristics. Conclusion: Our research underscores the indirect link between parental factors, child temperament, and toddler injuries in Pakistan. Culturally sensitive interventions targeting parental awareness can play a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of the youngest members of society.

Terror in the City: Local Terrorism and Firm Exports

Abstract In this paper, we examine the relationship between terrorism and exports at the firm-level. We use a panel data of 301 firms listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange and records of terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities from 1999 to 2014. By calculating city-level terrorism indices, the study reveals significant variations in the frequency of terrorist incidents both between cities and within cities over different time periods. Our panel regressions show that firm exports are correlated with terrorist attacks in the cities where the firms are located, and these correlations are statistically significant even when terrorism is lagged up to six years. Interregional spillover effects of terrorism are less pronounced. While a negative correlation can be found between firm exports and our terrorism indices, the correlation with domestic sales tends to be statistically insignificant. The findings shed light on the persistent link between local terrorism and firms’ international and domestic operations.

Cellulose triacetate-based mixed matrix membranes for concurrent removal of arsenate and arsenite from groundwater

Arsenic is one of the most dangerous groundwater contaminants whose effective removal is a major challenge for environmental scientists. Herein, several cellulose triacetate-based hybrid membranes are synthesized by adding different dosages (10, 30, and 50 wt%) of chitosan or chitosan-stabilized iron nanosheets. The fabricated membranes are characterized by advanced analytical tools such as AFM, SEM, FTIR, BET, TGA, zeta potential, and XRD. The enhancement in hydrophilicity and improved antifouling are evaluated by porosity, water uptake, contact angle, permeability tests, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) studies. At neutral pH, the cellulose triacetate-chitosan 50 % (CTA-CH 50 %) removed 85.13 % As(III) and 87.20 % As(V) at 67.23 L.m−2.h−1 permeability. On the other hand, cellulose triacetate-chitosan iron nanosheets 50 % (CTA-CIN 50 %) removed 91.30 % As(III) and 84.24 % As(V) at 62.35 L.m−2.h−1 permeability. The synthesized membranes efficiently removed arsenic from real groundwater taken from different Pakistani cities. The membranes are synthesized through a low-cost and scalable method, making it convenient for industrial-level applications.

Prediction of Agricultural Commodity Prices using Big Data Framework

The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in the economy of Pakistan, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the employment rate. However, this sector faces challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and low productivity, which have a direct impact on agricultural commodity prices. Accurate forecasting of commodity prices is essential for farmers, traders, and policymakers to make informed decisions and improve economic outcomes. This paper explores the use of a big data framework for agricultural commodity price forecasting in Pakistan, using a historical dataset on commodity prices in various Pakistani cities from 2007 to 2022 and Apache Spark to preprocess and clean the data. Based on historical spinach prices in Vehari City, the machine learning models Auto-Regressive Moving Average (ARIMA), Random Forest, and Long-Short-Term Memory (LSTM) were applied to price trends, and their performance was compared using Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and squared correlation coefficient (R2). LSTM outperformed ARIMA and Random Forest with a higher R2 value of 0.8 and the lowest MAE of 125.29. Such predictions can help farmers to effectively plan crop cultivation and traders to make well-informed decisions.

Psychosocial factors as potential predictors of sustained recovery amongst individuals with substance use disorder

ABSTRACT Purposes The present study investigated the contributory role of psychosocial capital specifically quality of life, social support and intellectual wellness as potential predictors of sustained recovery among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders. Design/methodology The study included 180 individuals with 95% being male and, age between 17–60 years. Participants were recruited from various addiction and rehabilitation centers located in Pakistani cities, such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Murree. To assess sustain recovery, quality of life, social support, and intellectual wellness, the Recovery Assessment Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, World Health Organization (WHO) quality of Life BREF, and Intellectual Wellness Scale respectively, were used. Findings Results of the current study showed that quality of life, social support and intellectual wellness positively predicted sustained recovery. Furthermore, the demographic variables were also found to be significant predictors. Conclusion The study examined the contributory role of psychosocial capital such as quality of life, social support and intellectual wellness, in predicting sustained recovery among individuals with substance use disorders. The finding revealed that these factors positively predict sustained recovery, and helpful in the developing early intervention in clinical practices.

Assessment of Factors affecting Patients Compliance in Tuberculosis Therapy in Pakistan

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge globally, with a particularly high burden in countries like Pakistan. Despite advances in treatment, patient compliance with TB therapy remains a critical issue. This study focuses on assessing the factors affecting patient compliance with TB therapy in the Pakistani cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a public-sector hospital in Rawalpindi. Data was collected through a comprehensive, validated questionnaire administered to 423 TB patients at the Begum Jan Hospital, Islamabad. The study employed systematic random sampling and was completed over a six-month period. The questionnaire was refined based on a pilot study and covered various aspects of the patients' experiences and knowledge about TB. Results: The study population comprised 44.92% males and 55.08% females, with a broad age distribution. A majority of participants were literate (60.05%) and had a low income. A significant number (66.67%) reported previous contact with TB. Awareness of TB transmission, prevention, and treatment varied, with a notable lack of knowledge about the risk of resistance development from improper treatment adherence. Most participants (91.49%) expressed satisfaction with their TB treatment, and a large majority informed family and friends about their illness. However, concerns about social isolation, financial burdens, and difficulty accessing healthcare facilities were prevalent. Counseling on medication intake and side effects was provided to most patients, but gaps in knowledge and support remained evident. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of addressing treatment compliance in Tuberculosis (TB) management. Key factors impacting compliance include limited awareness about TB, unsupervised medication intake, social stigma, and inadequate counseling. Enhancing health education for patients, the public, and healthcare providers is crucial for improving treatment adherence and reducing TB's overall burden.

Identification of suitable sites for rainwater and storm water harvesting through spatial analysis and smart sustainable urban water infrastructure in Lahore, Pakistan.

Sustainable and water-wise cities maintain an eco-friendly urban hydrological cycle (UHC). Regrettably, the UHC of Pakistani cities is not consistently eco-friendly. Pakistan is situated within the influential area of the world's largest monsoon weather system. Cities like Lahore face simultaneous vulnerabilities to urban flooding and water scarcity due to extreme climate change events. Therefore, Pakistan's urban areas necessitate Urban Water Infrastructural Transformation (UWIT), achievable only after identifying suitable Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting Potential Sites (RSWHPS) in Lahore. Hence, we conducted spatial analysis to pinpoint these RSWHPS within Lahore city for 2020, utilizing the World View Water Index (WV-WI). The results indicate 85.54 km2 of available areas for rain and stormwater harvesting potential during monsoon rains in Lahore. The area with the highest potential in Lahore is Wagha town, featuring 19.96 km2 of stagnant water. Additionally, RSWHPS is classified into four categories based on potential: high, medium, low, and water bodies in Lahore. Urgent transformation is required for the identified storm and rainwater harvesting sites. Consequently, this study will serve as a snapshot for policymakers to systematically address water shortage and urban flooding, making Lahore's hydrological cycle eco-friendly and sustainable.

An exploration and importance-performance analysis of bus rapid transit systems’ service quality attributes: Evidence from an emerging economy

Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems have emerged as efficient, convenient, and cost-effective solutions to meet customer transport needs. Since their advent in developing countries, a plethora of research has examined the service quality attributes of such systems that contribute to customers' overall satisfaction. Yet, there have been some methodological gaps that have limited understanding of what maximizes customer satisfaction with the service quality of the BRT system. This current study intends to fill such gaps and examines drivers of explicit and derived customer satisfaction with BRT systems in the emerging economy of Pakistan. In-depth interviews were first conducted to identify key service quality dimensions for BRT customers from four major Pakistani cities. A structured survey was then used to collect data from a total of 481 respondents (useable responses) using the Qualtrics platform. Data were analyzed via gap analysis, importance-performance grid, and regression analyses in SPSS to identify service quality elements that derive BRT customer satisfaction. These three data analysis techniques produced varying findings regarding service quality dimensions needing improvement to increase satisfaction. This study provides critical insights to improve the customers' BRT experience and some theoretical contributions for future researchers.

THE IMPACT OF GREEN HRM PRACTICES ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Green HRM refers to field of research that covers all aspects & procedures of HRM with the aim of achieving environmental sustainability,due to more than 50 years of global industrialization, several organizations have met significant environmental performance challenges. The study main objective is to determine effects of green human resource practices on environmental consciousness in the Pakistani cities of Kotri and Jamshoro. These practices include green training, green performance management as well as green employee participation. Data collection was done using a non-probability method called convenience sampling. A totalof 130 questionnaires was distributed in Archroma & Farhan Pharmaceuticals companies of Jamshoro & Kotri, and Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan after receiving 93 questionnaires, each one was carefully reviewed to ensure that they were filled out properly and could be used for analysis. SPSS 22 and Smart PLS software were used to analyze the data, which also helped to create the model and evaluate the study's hypotheses. Results showed that adoption of green HRM practices significantly improved environmental consciousness. In addition to offering theoretical & practical consequences, research avenues are recommended. Since, study was only done in the setting of Sindh, the findings may not be generalizable to another Pakistani province.

Strategies to Improve Revenue Generation for Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (Policy)

Like most Pakistani cities, Islamabad has a fragmented administration, weakening its revenue base and service delivery. This duality of structure was introduced through the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act 2015, which led to creation of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) for the city’s governance, in line with the city management practiced around the world. 1 The fragmented administrative resulted in an MCI that is dependent on CDA and Federal Government for its finance.

Assessing Urban Renewal Sites in Lahore

Introduction: Cities try to adapt to the rapidly changing global trends by updating themselves. In Pakistani cities, particularly in the last decade, the practices, processes, and consequences of urban renewal have sparked some debate. The 'new' space acquired or converted in the city is also significant in terms of its impact on urban identity. In this context, this research study aims to identify the effects of urban renewal in various parts of the world, especially in Lahore, Pakistan. Method: This study collects and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data. A method that relies on GIS-based urban renewal site identification. Result: Economic development in Lahore is not carried out well as almost 52% is dominated by old buildings, 28% of the roads at the Renewal location are in an abandoned condition, the quality of drinking water is low, and the inspection of garbage on the streets that is not paid attention to illustrates that there is no solid waste management system the good one. Conclusion: The development of Lahore's renewal was not carried out properly because 60% of the people lived in the Renewal site. The legacy of 27% of the local population was not interested in regional development, so urban renewal tended to be ignored.

DATA DRIVEN FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS OF AIR QUALITY LANDSCAPE FOR THE CITY OF LAHORE

Abstract. Several Pakistani cities are among the world’s most polluted. In the previous three years, air pollution in Lahore has been considerably over World Health Organization guideline levels, endangering the lives of the city’s more than 11 million citizens. In this paper, we investigate the city’s capability to combat air pollution by analyzing three essential aspects: (1) Data, (2) Capacity, and (3) Public awareness. Several studies have reported the need for expansion of the current air quality monitoring network. In this work, we also provide a context-aware location recommendation algorithm for installing the new air quality stations in Lahore. Data from four publicly available reference-grade continuous air quality monitoring stations and nine low-cost air quality measuring equipment are also analyzed. Our findings show that in order to measure and mitigate the effects of air pollution in Lahore, there is an urgent need for capacity improvement (installation of reference-grade and low-cost air quality sensors) and public availability of reliable air quality data. We further assessed public awareness by conducting a survey. The questionnaire results showed huge gaps in public awareness about the harms of the air quality conditions. Lastly, we provided a few recommendations for designing data-driven policies for dealing with the current apocalyptic air quality situation in Lahore.

Public Transport in Pakistan: A Critical Overview

Urban transport problems in Pakistan are managed by building larger and better roads. By contrast, the principles of sustainable transport encourage using low-cost public transport that could perform well in mixed land use and high density Pakistani cities. The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical overview of public transport policy in Pakistan from the British India period through to recent years. This overview highlights the core problem of the continuing failure of Pakistani cities to develop and manage their public transport systems in such a way as to provide a high level of mobility, equity, and environmental sustainability. The paper identifies several factors, including the importance of governance, capacity building, and urban planning in providing adequate, efficient, and effective public transport in Pakistan.

Computational Technologies for Pakistani Consumers’ Understanding of the Country-of-Origin Label for Fruit and Vegetable Products in Social Networks

Whether or not consumers consider information about origin in their routine food purchase decisions is a contentious issue. Usage of social networks has redefined lifestyle and culture, and firms are finding it difficult to understand their customers. This study aims to investigate the effect of social networks (digital marketing) on Pakistani consumers’ understanding of the CoO (country-of-origin) label for F&V (fruit and vegetable) products and its relative importance in daily purchase decisions of fruit and vegetable products. In a random survey of 797 consumers in two Pakistani cities, we found that the relationship between the CoO information and the daily F&V product choices of Pakistani consumers was less important than other factors. Consumers are mistaken about the CoO label, with only one-third of respondents correctly understanding the difference between labels of “made in...” and “product of....” Therefore, mandatory CoO label policies may increase costs and reinforce consumers’ misinterpretation of the meaning of these labels; obtaining a “user-friendly” CoO label serves only those consumers who properly understand the information. This study contributes to understanding of the extent to which consumers are competent in their knowledge and understanding of these informational labels.

The Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism During Early Pregnancy in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionSubclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) during early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth. In Pakistan, the prevalence of SCH among pregnant women is not well documented. This multi-center study aims at identifying the prevalence of SCH among Pakistani pregnant women.MethodsA cross-sectional multi-center study was conducted over a period of 12 months. Pregnant females in the first trimester of pregnancy were recruited from the antenatal clinics of seven centers from six Pakistani cities. We assessed the frequency of SCH in pregnant females and associated risk factors.ResultsA total of 500 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Only eight women (1.6%) had a newly-diagnosed SCH. While 1.2% of women had hyperthyroidism, 6% had known hypothyroidism, and 1% had overt hypothyroidism. Ten females (33.3%) with known hypothyroidism were receiving an inadequate dose of thyroid replacement therapy. The association between BMI and SCH was not statistically significant (p = 0.69). Moreover, we could not find any significant difference between patients with or without SCH in terms of age (p > 0.90), dyslipidemia (p = 0.157), history of miscarriage (p > 0.90), the regularity of the cycle (p > 0.90), and history of infertility (p > 0.90).ConclusionsThe frequency of undiagnosed SCH in pregnant females in the study from Pakistan was 1.6%. The rate of uncontrolled hypothyroidism was high, which raises an alarm of the potential risks of untreated thyroid disorder.

DESPOTIC LEADERSHIP AS A TRIGGER OF TURNOVER INTENTION: BY DESCENDING ORGANIZATION IDENTIFICATION PERCEPTION

Drawing on conservation of resource theory and social identity theory, the authors examined that Despotic Leadership prompts Turnover Intentions among employees and Organizational Identification's role as a mediator in this interaction. The authors also looked into the organizational justice's moderating effects. The sample consisted of 300 individuals from three major Pakistani cities who worked for various telecommunications organizations. Employees were given self-administered questionnaires, and quantitative research methodologies were used in this study. The SPSS software was used to measure and analyze the results. Despotic leadership has significant impact on employee turnover intentions with the mediating role of Organizational Identification, according to the findings. Furthermore, individuals having a high level of organizational justice in a company are less likely to indulge in turnover intentions in response to despotic leadership than those with poor organizational justice. The authors add to the body of knowledge by indicating that despotic leadership has an impact on employee turnover intentions. Furthermore, those with a high level of Organizational Justice are better able to deal with dictatorial leadership and a low level of organizational identity, and are less inclined to react to abuse by their bosses.

The Relations between Street Network Configuration and Travel Behavior in Pakistan; the Optimal Level of Street Connectivity for a More Active Mobility

Urban sprawl is a particular pattern of the street network and land use. The relationship between street networks and sprawl has been discussed by urban scholars in developed and high-income countries. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the relationships between street connectivity and urban travel behavior, particularly among emerging markets. This paper aims to study correlations between urban mobility and street-length density as an indicator for assessing the compactness of an area by developing two hierarchical regression models and controlling for socioeconomic variables in two large Pakistani cities: Lahore and Rawalpindi. Moreover, this paper defines optimal cutoff values for street-length density and active transport. Finally, three chi-square tests were conducted to assess the differences between using different mode choices by people living in sprawled neighborhoods versus compact neighborhoods. Our findings confirm the use of different transport modes depending on the purpose of the trip (commuting or non-commuting), length of trip (within or outside the neighborhood), and starting point (sprawled neighborhood or compact area). We also find a positive correlation between street-length density around homes and commuting distance, the frequency of public transport use, and the use of private motor vehicles in commuting trips in the two cities. Street-length density around workplaces is correlated with commuting distance, the frequency of public transport use, and the use of private motor vehicles when socioeconomic variables (including age, daily activity, and monthly income) are controlled for in the two models. The behavior of Pakistani residents changes with a street-length density of 137 and 144.7 m/m2 for homes and workplaces, respectively, in terms of using active mobility.

The Neighborhood Effect on Keeping Non-Commuting Journeys within Compact and Sprawled Districts

The neighborhood effect on keeping non-commuting trips inside neighborhoods has not yet been investigated in developing countries. The modeling of non-commuting trips inside neighborhoods helps understand how to avoid unnecessary journeys by car into different parts of the city. This paper, therefore, attempts to clarify (1) the similarities and differences in the socioeconomic characteristics and the perceptions of people in sprawled and compact neighborhoods, (2) correlations between, on the one hand, the choice of destinations of non-commuting trips for shopping and entertainment activities and, on the other, the socioeconomic features, travel behavior, and perceptions of residents in the two large Pakistani cities of Lahore and Rawalpindi, (3) the similarities and differences in the determinants of non-commuting destinations inside neighborhoods in compact and sprawled districts. The paper develops four Binary Logistic (BL) regression models, with two models for each type of neighborhood. The findings show that trips to shopping areas inside compact districts are correlated with a sense of belonging to the neighborhood, frequency of public transport use, residential location, and mode choice of non-commuting trips to destinations both inside and outside the neighborhood. On the other hand, the number of non-commuting trips, mode choice for non-commuting trips outside the neighborhood, frequency of public transport use, the attractiveness of shops, and monthly income (please see the Note) are significant determinants for trips to the shopping area in sprawled districts. Age, gender, possession of a driver’s license, income, number of non-commuting trips, mode choice for non-commuting trips outside of the neighborhood, car ownership, and attractiveness of shops in a neighborhood are correlated with trips to entertainment locations inside the neighborhood in compact districts. Finally, the attractiveness of shops, quality of social and recreational facilities, a sense of belonging to a neighborhood, choice of residential location, gender, age, possession of a driver’s license, number of cars in the household, and income are determinants of trips to entertainment locations in sprawled districts. A chi-square test confirms the differences across gender, daily activity, monthly income, frequency of public transport use, residential location choice, and the quality of social and recreational facilities for sprawled and compact districts in Pakistan.

Impervious Surfaces Mapping at City Scale by Fusion of Radar and Optical Data through a Random Forest Classifier

Urbanization increases the amount of impervious surfaces, making accurate information on spatial and temporal expansion trends essential; the challenge is to develop a cost- and labor-effective technique that is compatible with the assessment of multiple geographical locations in developing countries. Several studies have identified the potential of remote sensing and multiple source information in impervious surface quantification. Therefore, this study aims to fuse datasets from the Sentinel 1 and 2 Satellites to map the impervious surfaces of nine Pakistani cities and estimate their growth rates from 2016 to 2020 utilizing the random forest algorithm. All bands in the optical and radar images were resampled to 10 m resolution, projected to same coordinate system and geometrically aligned to stack into a single product. The models were then trained, and classifications were validated with land cover samples from Google Earth’s high-resolution images. Overall accuracies of classified maps ranged from 85% to 98% with the resultant quantities showing a strong linear relationship (R-squared value of 0.998) with the Copernicus Global Land Services data. There was up to 9% increase in accuracy and up to 12 % increase in kappa coefficient from the fused data with respect to optical alone. A McNemar test confirmed the superiority of fused data. Finally, the cities had growth rates ranging from 0.5% to 2.5%, with an average of 1.8%. The information obtained can alert urban planners and environmentalists to assess impervious surface impacts in the cities.