Rate In Pakistan Research Articles

Rising Cesarean Section Rates in Pakistan: Analyzing Frequency and Key Risk Factors in a Tertiary-Care Hospital.

The increasing frequency of cesarean sections (CS) has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of CS and its contributing factors among mothers in an underdeveloped region of the country. Data were collected from 250 delivery cases using a self-developed questionnaire. Among the participants, 110 (44%) had undergone CS, with 67 (60.9%) being emergency procedures and 43 (39.1%) elective. Statistical analysis revealed that younger maternal age (p = 0.04), type of CS (p = 0.05), and education level (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with higher rates of CS. Major medical risk factors contributing to CS included preeclampsia/eclampsia, vaginal hemorrhage, gestational diabetes, and hypertension (p < 0.001). Furthermore, urban residence, younger maternal age (20-24 years), and preterm gestational age were also identified as significant contributors. The findings suggest that the high rate of CS (44%) in the study population is influenced not only by physiological and medical factors but also by demographic elements such as education, income, and type of delivery. To mitigate unnecessary CS, community-focused educational interventions targeting at-risk populations should be implemented during pregnancy. Effective measures are essential to reduce the rising CS rates in Pakistan.

THE IMPACT OF FAMILY PLANNING ON MATERNAL HEALTH IN QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Balochistan, a region with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Pakistan, faces significant challenges in maternal health. This qualitative study focuses on the impact of family planning on maternal health in Quetta, Balochistan, emphasizing the importance of understanding and improving health outcomes for women and their families. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to explore the experiences and perspectives of women regarding the use of family planning methods and their impact on maternal health and well-being. It aims to compare the health outcomes of women who have utilized family planning methods with those who have not. Method: The research design includes in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with a diverse sample of women aged 18-45 years and healthcare providers at Sandeman Provincial Hospital, commonly known as Civil Hospital, in Quetta. Purposive sampling was employed to account for age, socioeconomic status, and education level variations. Forty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted to gather rich, contextual data. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes and patterns in the responses. Results: Preliminary findings indicate several key themes, including the motivations for choosing family planning methods, the impact of these methods on reducing pregnancy risks, improving spacing between pregnancies, and enhancing postpartum recovery. Additional insights were gained into the factors influencing the adoption of family planning services, such as cultural norms, religious beliefs, and access to healthcare and information. Conclusion: The study underscores the critical role of family planning in enhancing maternal health outcomes in Quetta, Balochistan. It highlights the need for targeted educational and healthcare interventions to improve the accessibility and acceptance of family planning services, thereby contributing to the well-being of women and their families in the region.

Comparative Studies of Hybrid ARIMA and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Techniques for Predicting Exchange Rate in Pakistan

For predicting time series data the ARIMA and ANN provides a good technique in the field of research. Time series data often contain both linear and nonlinear patterns. Therefore, neither ARIMA nor neural networks can be adequate in modeling and predicting time series data. When applying the linear models, most existing studies seem to use the same specification for estimation and forecasting, but the dynamic impact of the concerned variables is ignored. In this study combined the ARIMA and Artificial neural network model by adopting both an equal weighted approach and profit weighted approach to capture both th linear and nonlinear components of the exchange rate, and also developed a hybrid techniques by using models of artificial neural network (ANN) and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and their performance were compared to ANN and Hybrid ARIMA models. The Hybrid models are used for forecasting the future exchange rate for dollar, the exports and imports of data The findings showed that combining both ARIMA and ANN models reap the advantage of linear and nonlinear modeling. The capability of the two models are analyzed based on standard statistical measures such as, mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean squared error (MSE). Models effectiveness The effectiveness of the models are analyzed for the foreign exchange rate, imports and exports of the data and concluded that hybrid techniques provided the best forecasting results.

Molecular characterization of human adenoviruses associated with pediatric respiratory infections in Karachi, Pakistan

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are a diverse group of viruses associated with respiratory infections in humans worldwide. However, there is a lack of research on the genetic diversity and epidemiology of HAdVs in Pakistan. This study characterized HAdVs in pediatric patients with respiratory tract infections in Karachi, Pakistan, between 2022 and 2023. We analyzed 762 nasopharyngeal samples of children ≤ 5 years. DNA extraction, followed by PCR targeting E2B and hexon genes, was carried out. Data analysis was performed on SPSS 25.0, and phylogenetic analysis of hexon gene was performed on MEGA 11. HAdV was detected in 7.34% (56/762) of patients round the year, but at a significantly higher rate during the winter season. Age was insignificantly associated with HAdV incidence (p = 0.662), but more than 62.5% (35/56) of positive cases were younger than 10 months. The circulating HAdVs were identified as six different types from species B (78.57%) and C (21.42%), with the majority of isolates found to be like B3. HAdV was found to be co-infected with bocavirus (5.4%) and measles (7.14%). These findings revealed a high frequency and genetic diversity of respiratory HAdVs in Karachi, Pakistan. We conclude that periodic and continuous surveillance of adenoviruses and other respiratory pathogens is necessary to improve the prognosis and management of respiratory diseases, thereby reducing the child mortality rate in Pakistan.

Investigating the Malnutrition in Children Under Five Years in District Umerkot, Sindh

Malnutrition no doubt has turned into a major public health problem especially in under five children of developing countries, 45% of child mortality is directly linked to malnutrition in developing countries. The malnutrition rates in Pakistan are undoubtedly high as 44% of children under five are stunted. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children under five years of age in District Umerkot, Sindh. Methods: The study was designed as descriptive research and a non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select respondents. A close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from 164 respondents. Results: The findings of study revealed that stunting and wasting were the most frequently proved types of malnutrition which is highly prevailing among children under five years of age in District Umerkot. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the need for effective interventions to address malnutrition in this area and study to discover the cause of issue. The findings of this research might aid in directing efforts designed toward enhancing the diets of children under five in Sindh District Umerkot and might affect policy alternatives.

Trends and population attributable risk estimates for individual and community-level factors of neonatal mortality in Pakistan (1990–2018)

PurposePakistan ranks third globally in terms of newborn deaths occuring within the first 24 hours of life. With a neonatal mortality rate of 42.0%, it carries the highest burden compared to neighboring countries such as Bangladesh (17%), India (22.7%) and Afghanistan (37%). While there has been a decline in neonatal mortality rates in Pakistan, the pace of this decline is slower than that of other countries in the region. Hence, it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive examination of the risk factors contributing to neonatal mortality in Pakistan over an extended period. This study aims to analyze the trends and determinants of neonatal mortality in Pakistan over three decades, providing valuable insights into this persistent issue.Design/methodology/approachThe study focused on neonatal mortality as the response variable, which is defined as the death of a live-born child within 28 days of birth. Neonates who passed away during this period were categorized as “cases,” while those who survived beyond a specific timeframe were referred to as “noncases.” To conduct a pooled analysis of neonatal mortality, birth records of 39,976 children born in the five years preceding the survey were extracted from four waves (1990–2018) of the Pakistan Demographic and Household Survey. The relationship between risk factors and the response variable was examined using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model. Neonatal mortality rates were calculated through the direct method using the “syncmrates” package in Stata 15.FindingsDuring the extended period in Pakistan, several critical protective factors against neonatal mortality were identified, including a large family size, improved toilet facilities, middle-aged and educated mothers, female children, singleton live births, large size at birth and longer birth intervals. These factors were found to reduce the risk of neonatal mortality significantly.Originality/valueThis study makes the first attempt to analyze the trends and patterns of potential risk factors associated with neonatal mortality in Pakistan. By examining a large dataset spanning several years, the study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing neonatal mortality.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-09-2022-0604

Prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in Pakistan – A Systematic Review

Numerous epidemiological investigations pertaining to Parkinson's disease (PD) have been carried out on a global scale during the course of time. While each research documented an increase in the frequency and incidence rate of PD as individuals age, there were variations in the overall estimations seen across various nations. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide a thorough analysis of PD incidence and prevalence rates in Pakistan. Methods: Google Scholar, Medline, and Embase were used to look for studies which reported the incidence of PD around the world. The searches were limited to English-language studies about people that happened between 1965 to 2023. Results: A total of 7 studies were conducted on Parkinson’s disease in Pakistan. Muhammad Tufail et al. in a cross-sectional study observed a heightened prevalence of Parkinson's disease, with 600 patients identified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). In a cross-sectional study conducted in Lahore, 85 cases of PD were identified within a hospital setting. Fifty cases in a cross-sectional study were conducted at a Hospital in Rawalpindi. Saira et al. performed an observational study at Islamabad Hospital and found the prevalence of We estimated the overall frequency of PD in Pakistan was 1016 cases in this systematic review. Males were more diagnosed with PD as compared to females. Conclusions: The data from the studies reviewed here indicate that PD increased in Pakistan during the last decade. While males were dominant in this study which is not different from across the globe.

National income accounting attributes and economic welfare. Evidence from Pakistan.

Economic welfare is essential in the modern economy since it directly reflects the standard of living, distribution of resources, and general social satisfaction, which influences individual and social well-being. This study aims to explore the relationship between national income accounting different attributes and the economic welfare in Pakistan. However, this study used data from 1950 to 2022, and data was downloaded from the World Bank data portal. Regression analysis is used to investigate the relationship between them and is very effective in measuring the relationship between endogenous and exogenous variables. Moreover, generalized methods of movement (GMM) are used as the robustness of the regression. Our results show that foreign direct investment outflow, Gross domestic product growth rate, GDP per capita, higher Interest, market capitalization, and population growth have a significant negative on the unemployment rate, indicating the rise in these factors leads to a decrease in the employment rate in Pakistan. Trade and savings have a significant positive impact on the unemployment rate, indicating the rise in these factors leads to an increase in the unemployment rate for various reasons. Moreover, all the factors of national income accounting have a significant positive relationship with life expectancy, indicating that an increase in these factors leads to an increase in economic welfare and life expectancy due to better health facilities, many resources, and correct economic policies. However, foreign direct investment, inflation rate, lending interest rate, and population growth have significant positive effects on age dependency, indicating these factors increase the age dependency. Moreover, GDP growth and GDP per capita negatively impact age dependency. Similarly, all the national income accounting factors have a significant negative relationship with legal rights that leads to decreased legal rights. Moreover, due to better health facilities and health planning, there is a negative significant relationship between national income accounting attributes and motility rate among children. Our study advocated the implications for the policymakers and the government to make policies for the welfare and increase the social factors.

The Impact of Financial Sector Development on the Sustainable Economic Growth of Pakistan

Purpose: The study examine the impact of financial Institutions and markets development on the sustainable economic growth of Pakistan.&#x0D; Design/Methodology/Approach: Time series data of Pakistan is analyzed from 1985 to 2022 by using OLS.&#x0D; Findings: Financial institutions development particularly banks are playing positive role in the real GDP growth rate of Pakistan. Financial openness has neutral effect, intermediation and liquidity has positive effect and financial institutions expansion has negative effect on the real GDP. The financial markets development is playing negative role in the real GDP growth rate in Pakistan due to weak, fragile and inefficient market institutions.&#x0D; Implications/Originality/Value: Our study findings suggest that for a sustainable economic growth Government should encourage and support financial institutions particularly banks to increase economic activities in the country.

The impact of gender equality on economic growth of Pakistan

The present paper examines the impact of gender discrimination in context of education, health and labor force participation rate in Pakistan. The significance of education, health and equal employment opportunities for Pakistani female has been highlighted in this study. The dependent variable is Economic growth (GDP) and three independent variables literacy rate, life expectancy and labor force participation rate are selected as key variables. To analyze the short term as well as long term effects of variables and their speed of adjustment Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and error correction (ECM) models were applied respectively. Moreover the Bounds testing analysis confirmed the existence of a long-term linkage between the variables. ARDl test has been employed to the available data which shows significant impact of literacy rate of female and life expectancy a proxy of health factor on the economic growth of Pakistan during selected twenty years (2003-2023). Labor force participation rate of female shows an insignificant effect on economic growth.

Forecasting the population growth and wheat crop production in Pakistan with non-linear growth and ARIMA models

Food security as a major social concern and a global threat, requires better policy decisions based on empirical studies. This work presents a comparative statistical analysis of different methods to forecast wheat area, productivity, production, and population growth rate in Pakistan. Time series data from 1950 to 2020 were analyzed using various methods such as ARIMA, the compound growth exponential regression model (CGREM), Cuddy Della Valle instability index (CDVI), and decomposition analysis. The results show that CGREM performs better than other models. Periodic compound growth rates indicate that wheat area and yield decrease by about 67.0% and 40.0%, while the population decreases by 31.7%. For the period 2001-2020, the compound growth reaches the level of 0.60% for wheat area, 1.21% for yield, while it is high for the population and amounts to 2.22%. The overall compound growth rate for wheat area and yield (about 1.207%, 2.326%) is lower compared to the population (about 2.839%). The paper presents forecasts for wheat area, yield, and population in Pakistan will rise: 12.7%, 25.5%, 31.8% in 2030 and 43%, 97.8%, and 129% in 2050. The results of this study provide empirical evidence for the necessity of policy decisions addressing the problem of food security in Pakistan.

Unravelling the mind of young adult offenders: mediating role of impulsivity in relationship between psychopathy and criminal thinking

ABSTRACT The increased crime rate in Pakistan can largely be attributed to criminal thinking, which encompasses the thought content and processes of offenders. Psychopathy, a disposition characterized by lack of empathy, emotional awareness, and impulsivity, is a vital risk factor for deviance and violent offending among young offenders. The present study aims to investigate mediating role of impulsivity between the relationship of Psychopathy and Criminal Thinking in Young Adult Offenders. The sample comprised 126 male offenders who were convicted and imprisoned for a criminal case, with the age range of 19–30 years (M = 25.74, SD = 3.15) were taken from Prisons in Pakistan. Findings revealed that there were positive associations between psychopathy, impulsivity, and various criminal thinking styles. Results indicated that impulsivity mediated the relationship between psychopathy and power orientation, criminal rationalization, entitlement, and cold-heartedness criminal thinking styles. It was concluded that psychopathic tendencies and impulsivity of offenders determined major cognitive processes in trying to control the environment, developing justifications to masquerade real motive behind a crime, feeling above the law, and an absence or concern of others. This mediation model highlights an explanatory mechanism for assessment of dispositional as well as cognitive processes to aid in the prevention of crime in future. The findings of this study have important implications for the development of interventions that include psychopathy and impulsivity as mechanisms for reducing violent behaviour in this population.

Botanical biopesticides have an influence on tomato quality through pest control and are cost-effective for farmers in developing countries.

Synthetic insecticides heavily applied to manage agricultural pests are highly hazardous to the environment and non-target organisms. Their overuse through repeated treatments in smallholder farming communities is frequent. Botanical biopesticides are ideal for sustainable pest management in agricultural environments by keeping synthetic insecticide use at a minimum. Here we evaluated a locally prepared neem seed extract (NSE) alongside emamectin benzoate against both lepidopteran pests Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) on tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill under natural field conditions in Pakistan. We compared pest severity, fruit injury, quality, marketability, and cost:benefit ratio (CBR) between treatments. The concentration of azadirachtin A in the NSE was 26.5 ppm. NSE at 2% (20 mL/L) and the emamectin benzoate at the recommended field rate in Pakistan were sprayed weekly throughout the fruiting stage. The pest larvae were significantly more abundant on fruits than on flowers and leaves. Fruit injury and losses were significantly more important in untreated control compared to NSE and emamectin benzoate treatments. NSE efficacy varied with respect to the cultivars used and the seasons. Cultivar Eden harboured more pests than Adventa, and emamectin benzoate suppressed more pest individuals than NSE. Both the insecticidal treatments were comparable in terms of marketable yield productions as well as unmarketable, uninjured, and recovered fruit yields. NSE generated a higher CBR (1: 9.26) than emamectin benzoate (1: 3.23). NSE suppressed pests by acting as an antifeedant, similar to its synthetic counterpart. Smallholder growers can thus use NSE as a cost-effective solution in tomato pest management in Pakistan.

Development and Validation of Student Engagement Questionnaire

Introduction: Medical students drop out rate in Pakistan is very high. In our country, only 84% of students graduate, which is significantly lower than the average for developing nations. Class engagement, has been identified as a solution to the failures, dropouts and motivational lacking of students. Being multifaceted construct, the problems of defining engagement have also led to inconsistencies in measurements too. Most of the previous student engagement questionnaires had lack of information regarding their reliability and validity, transparency and auditability. They were long and complex to understand and only measures the behavioral and social engagement. So there is a need to develop questionnaires that is short, freely available and can easily be understood by all stakeholders involved in teaching and learning. Aims &amp; Objectives: To develop a questionnaire to assess the engagement of undergraduate medical students during classroom activities. Place and Duration of Study: This was mixed method study, conducted at the University College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Lahore between November 2022 &amp;May 2023under the guidelines of AMEE Guide 87. Material &amp; Methods: After receiving consent, the first draft of the questionnaire was distributed to 14 clinical and basic science subject experts, as well as medical educators, for qualitative and content validation. To determine the response process and to address any misunderstandings regarding the significance of questionnaire items, cognitive interviews with six students were conducted. Responses from 210 undergraduate medical and dentistry students were used to gauge reliability. SPSS version 23 was used to evaluate the questionnaires, a p-value of ?0.05 was considered significant For the scale, an internal consistency of between 0.50 and 0.70 according to Cronbach's alpha was deemed sufficient Results: There were 14 experts who gave qualitative expert validation. The initial student engagement questionnaire contained 49 items to measure 5 theoretical constructs, and were modified to make them more comprehensible and applicable. The questionnaire’s overall scale validity index was 0.84. After the cognitive interviews, there were just twenty items left. Content validation was finished in two rounds with 20 final items, yielding acceptable values of SI- CVI 0.83 &amp; CCA 2.8. After the questionnaire had undergone pilot testing, 210 students filled it out, and the reliability of the survey was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, which came out to be 0.721. Conclusion: Medical colleges can use this valid and reliable student engagement questionnaire to assess students' emotional, behavioral, and cognitive involvement in class.

Maternal mortality and morbidity in Pakistan: a situational analysis

Background The maternal mortality rate in Pakistan is high, which has been attributed partly to delays in accessing healthcare for women who are pregnant and in labour. This study aimed to explore the community's perspectives of delays to use of health services in pregnancy and labour, using the ‘three delays’ model and the framework for determinants of maternal mortality. Methods An explorative-descriptive approach was used, with purposeful sampling of 382 participants selected from across Pakistan. Four groups of participants were selected: married women, married men, adolescent girls and adolescent boys. Results Several factors led to delays seeking healthcare. Women were unable to decide for themselves whether to attend a healthcare facility, there were issues reaching a facility in time and at the facility, either the resources or healthcare workers were lacking. Conclusions Women must be given education and access to healthcare in order to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

The Dilemma Of Pharmaceutical Companies In Pakistan: Navigating Price Regulations During A Time Of High Inflation.

Dear Madam, An ever-worsening economic crisis, has hit Pakistan, and the political crisis and recent floods have added to the worsening situation [1]. The inflation rate in Pakistan has hit a record high of 35.4%, leading to the manufacturers’ increase in the cost of essentials and amenities [2]. However, pharmaceuticals have still not been allowed to increase their products’ prices, making it difficult for them to thrive, which has led to their decrease in number over the last few years [3]. Since 2018, the number of foreign pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan has been reduced from 48 to 22. [4]. The local sector is in no better position. Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry has warned that local businesses will have to cease due to extortionate production costs and the devaluation of the rupee, difficulties with imports, and rising inflation [5]. As many as 770 drug manufacturers in Pakistan have been impacted by the medicine shortage crisis consequent to a lack of essential raw products and materials imports [6]. More companies are expected to stop producing medicines owing to high costs in the upcoming days, which may lead to the number of scarce drugs in the country increasing from 500 to 2,500 [7]. Pakistan is the only country with a regulatory authority that controls the prices of all medicines. [8]. This entire situation has created an immense burden for consumers, who are compelled to face the consequence of medicine shortage, forcing them to buy medicines at a much higher cost. The deficit has also led to the production of counterfeit drugs, hurting not only the existing industries but also putting patients’ lives at very high risk. The industry's greatest worry is the complete freezing of pharmaceutical product prices. The government-set pricing structure prevents the pharmaceutical industry from raising the price of any drugs, even those whose costs have increased by more than 100%. With significantly increasing input, associated costs like fuel, electricity, labour, and raw materials have made it difficult for the industry to survive [8]. The government should pay immediate attention to this problem. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) needs to implement new policies allowing pharmaceutical to increase their products’ prices, ensuring not to overburden consumers with it. DRAP should be strengthened by upgrading to maintain global standards. ---Continue

Macroeconomic determinants of the real exchange rate in Pakistan

This research endeavors to comprehensively examine the macroeconomic determinants that influence the real exchange rate in Pakistan over an extended temporal horizon. By employing quarterly data spanning from the first quarter of 1980 to the fourth quarter of 2020, this study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) methodology to discern both immediate and enduring determinants of the real exchange rate. The findings distinctly reveal that variables such as money supply, trade openness, workers' remittances, and productivity collectively constitute the long-term determinants of the real exchange rate in the context of Pakistan. Specifically, an augmentation in money supply and an escalated level of economic openness manifestly contribute to the reduction of the real exchange rate, whereas an inflow of remittances and heightened productivity exhibit the propensity to elevate the real exchange rate over an extended duration. This exploration underscores the imperative for proactive engagement by the nation's monetary authorities within the foreign exchange market, with the overarching objective of preserving the currency's value at a state of equilibrium and, thereby, ensuring the holistic integrity of the economy.

Standard RUTF vs. locally-made RUSF for acutely malnourished children: A quasi-experimental comparison of the impact on growth and compliance in a rural community of Pakistan.

The reduction in severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM) rates in Pakistan has been sub-optimal compared to other low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Specially-formulated products have been designed globally to manage SAM and MAM, such as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), with variable efficacies. RUTF is primarily produced and patented in industrialized countries, raising supply challenges in resource-constrained regions with a high burden of acute malnutrition. RUSF minimizes costs by using locally-available ingredients while providing similar nutritional value. In this study, we compared the efficacy, side effects, and compliance of two months of supplementation with either RUTF or RUSF. Children aged nine months in the rural district of Matiari, Pakistan, with a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) <-2 received either RUTF (500 kcal sachet) for two months in 2015 or RUSF (520 kcal sachet) for two months in 2018. The RUSF group had a higher height gain and mid-upper arm circumferences (MUAC) score. Higher compliance was noted with lower side effects in the RUSF group. A higher compliance rate did correlate with the growth parameters in respective groups. Our study found that both RUTF and RUSF partially improve the anthropometric status of acutely malnourished children, with neither being superior to the other.

Unraveling the Economic Collapse in Pakistan: A Thematic Analysis of Unemployment and Inflation through the Lenz of Educationist

Aim: The study primarily aimed to investigate the interlinkage between unemployment and increasing inflation rate and how they contribute to economic collapse in Pakistan. The study examines the effects of inflation on Pakistan’s economy and how it affects the locals and the employment rate in Pakistan. Methodology: This study comprises a qualitative research design. Semi- structured interviews were employed through thematic analysis. Open-ended questions were used to guide the interviews. The participants included 6 senior-level economists from a private organization in Pakistan. The similar responses of the participants were then divided into different themes. Results: The outcomes of the study revealed that elevating crime rate, hyperinflation, declining trade rate, excessive foreign debt and recession accelerate the contribution of increasing inflation and unemployment to economic collapse. Conclusion: The study concluded the interlinkage between increasing inflation and unemployment and its effects on Pakistan’s economy

Vulnerability of Food Security in the Presence of Deteriorating Exchange Rate Regime in Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Food Security and Exchange Rate in Pakistan. The Augmented Dicky Fuller and Zivot Andrew tests of stationarity and the ARDL approach to cointegration have been used. The Gregory Hansen test of cointegration is applied to confirm the ARDL Bounds Test outcomes in the presence of Structural Breaks in the series. In Pakistan, the Exchange Rate has a significant deleterious influence on Food Security in the long run. For GDP growth, Arable Land and Agriculture Value Added, there is a significant positive long run association with Food Security. But, only Arable Land has a short run significant positive impact on food security in Pakistan. Therefore, amassed Arable Land is worthy for improving the food security situation both in the short and long runs. The flagging exchange rate in Pakistan is not advantageous for food security, as the country is a net importer.