The US counterattack on Afghanistan in October 2001 changed in the overall security structure of the region. The Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters escaped the US bombing of the Tora Bora in Afghanistan and crossed into the FATA region of Pakistan. Pakistan’s military operations against these militants in the FATA provided a boost to the latter’s cause and almost the entire FATA experienced a sort of Talibanization. The US war in Afghanistan had its spillover effect in FATA. Terrorist activities unleashed in the entire Pakistan and turmoil in Afghanistan added fuel to this situation. FATA’s special constitutional status was adding to the woes of Pakistan and subsequently FATA was merged with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This paper analyzes the impact of the US war in Afghanistan on the FATA region of Pakistan.

Financial crisis shows the ambiguous role of the corporate governance system. Hence, the main purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of corporate governance on Non-performing loans of the banking industry of Pakistan. The time period selected from 2006 to 2016 and source of data is annual reports of respective banks and the World Bank. In order to explain the relationship between the governance system and non-performing loans used descriptive, correlational and panel data analyses. The results revealed a negative and significant effect of corporate governance on nonperforming loans of sample firms of the study. Therefore, suggested for the banking industry of Pakistan to implement and make sure their reports according to corporate governance code compliance to control non-performing loans.

The key aim of current research is to investigate the influence of CG on financial performance (FP) and capital structure (CS) of cement companies listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). To accomplish this purpose, twenty cement firms listed on the PSX was deployed from 2005 to 2014. Auto-correlation and heteroscedasticity were tested and Regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses. SPSS 21 is conducted to perform the analyses.CG is analyzed via board size, board independence, and institutional ownership while, return on assets and return on equity are employed to analyze FP, whereas CS is calculated via debt to equity. The outcomes document that CG positively affects FP, however, negatively impact CS. This research not only contributes to examining the impact and association between CG, FP, and CS but also prove the outcomes of previous studies that have presented a significant influence and association between CG, FP, and CS.

Corporate governance (CG) is key to enhance firm’s value. The purpose of this research is to examine effects of various aspects of corporate governance on firm’s value. We used secondary penal data of 100 companies on Pakistan Stock Exchange for the period: 2010 – 2016. Findings revealed that among other aspects of CG, managerial ownership and board size have significant influence on the value of a firm. Among controlled variables, firm size and firm ages were also found significant in firm’s value. We are convinced that findings of this study would help addressing agency issues through effective corporate governance measures. This study has come up with some practical implications as well. It is suggested that for better firm performance and increasing efficiency the board size may be kept at minimum.

Economic recession of 2009 marked the end of the US dominance in the world. The subsequent period brought transition in the global order. China stepped forward by taking “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”, establishing Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and creating alternative forums to engage various regions by assuming a global role. Chinese World Order here is not aimed at referring to the world dominated by China but Chinese sphere of influence with its greater role. Pakistan’s profile has improved with success against terrorism, Chinese investment and interest by other countries to invest under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC is a flagship project of BRI which enables Pakistan’s growth and extend it economic integration with China. Pakistan’s close partnership with China enables it to play a greater political role in South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, the Islamic world and the world at large.

Corporate boards have gained remarkable significance over the past few years due to the efforts of various scholars who explored the positives of corporate boards in the context of governance of companies. This paper investigates the effectiveness of corporate boards in stimulating corporate governance, generating shareholder value and examining physiognomies that affect good governance practices. The intention is to explore: how principles of corporate governance can be stimulated to be more effective and efficient; what attributes of corporate governance may influence the performance of corporate boards for satisfying the shareholder expectations. The methodology used for this paper is qualitative and employs an inductive approach along with exploratory and analytical philosophy. The findings of this paper emphasize the fair appointment process for directors and to increase the number of external directors in corporate boards; so that the significant issues of companies could be discussed properly and finalized timely.

This paper investigated the effect of corporate governance in improving the earnings multiple and reducing the discretionary accruals. This study developed four econometrics models. Random effect model employed for examining the first three econometric models, while for the fourth econometric model study used Andrew F. Hayes mediation process. Results suggest that BOD size, BOD meetings and audit committee size has a significant positive impact on earnings multiples, while earnings multiples have a negative impact on dictionary accrual. Moreover, BOD size and audit committee size has a significant negative impact on dictionary accrual, whereas BOD meetings and employee ownership has a significant positive impact on dictionary accrual. The results further revealed the novel link that earnings multiples partially mediate the relationship between corporate governance variables and dictionary accrual. The new findings provide important insights for all the stakeholders like government, practitioners, academia, researchers, banks, Bursa Malaysia, security commission and public listed companies.

Rampant corporate failures have placed corporate governance in the limelight again however not all governance practices help firms in enhancing value. This empirical research examines impact of corporate governance practices on shareholders' value represented by earning per share of 243 listed firms on Pakistani Bourse. It ensued in the conclusion that overall corporate governance tends to have significant impact on earnings per share and reveals dichotomy of corporate governance practices based on direction of their association with share holders' value and terms them as value boosters and value dampers. It has also been found that pro-entrenchment practices tend to lower earnings per share in the listed firms either due to complacency or vested interests while rest of the practices help in enhancing value earned on each share thus endorsing the theoretical perspectives emanating out of agency and shareholder activism theories. This study emphasizes the significance of Board Attendance, Board Independence, Non-duality of CEOChairman Role for listed firms' value. It also shows that entrenchment acts like larger boards, directors' ownership, large block holders and disclosure of such ownership can adversely impact the firms' value and thus play a significant role in scaring away the potential investors who primarily look at earnings per share for buying of stocks of a particular company. It entails policy implications that implementation of counter-entrenchment regulations needs strengthening as the existing seem to have cosmetic effect. Identification and implementation of good governance practices can be best ensured when propagated in the perspective of value enhancement.

Anxiousness among the world governments is high in emerging after the lock down due to the COVID-19 pandemic for stabilizing their economies. Countries like Pakistan feel this pressure much higher due to the prevailing informal economy, poverty, free media, and conspiracy theories.Dissolution of critical services powers under the 18th amendment of 'The Constitution of Pakistan 1973’ underscored differences among provincial autonomy. In this situation, estimation of federal government’s responsibility in crisis management, the role of NDMA, delayed creation of NCOC, and options for‘smart’ lock down was the dithering by the Federal govt which caused initial damage. Pakistan has a snacking history of 'basic democracies,' 'devolution of powers, and consolidated instructions for provincial administrative working from the Federal governments. This paper aims to study the impact of ‘Mix-Messaging 'in power exercise is studied under qualitative method with discourse analysis to find reasons behind governance challenges and way forward to deal with governance challenges during COVID-19 ranging from in-person to e-governance systems.

This article highlights the nature of governance in bureaucracy in Pakistan during various regimes. The bureaucracy involved itself in politics and ignored the golden sayings of Quaid-i-Azam, which led it to face various sociopolitical and administrative issues and problems. Bureaucrats sense of primacy resulted in the politicization of bureaucracy. This intervention, as a result, led to decay, arbitrary decision-making, corruption, kickback culture and lack of accountability, etc. This study attempts to present various issues and problems faced by the bureaucracy of Pakistan and suggests reforms to minimize them so that the cherished goal of a developed Pakistan in the 21st century may be achieving.