SEARCH ARTICLE

24 Pages : 224-236

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2020(V-III).24      10.31703/gssr.2020(V-III).24      Published : Sep 2020

Assessing the Impact of Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) for Human Capital Development in Balochistan

    Technical Vocational Education and Training Program, also known as TVET, is broadly recognized as one of the most prominent disciplines in the education system. Technical education, as included in Pakistan's national education policy, is concerned with the quality technological human capital leading to a national pool of skilled and self-reliant artisans, technicians and technologists in the fields of vocational and technical education. The descriptive research design was used, and a total of 625 students and 137 TVET institutes of Balochistan participated in the study. The instrument for data collection was an adopted, and amended questionnaire based on study constructs, and data were collected by the researchers. Opportunities lie in the emerging demand for skills in CPEC projects, global markets of Europe, the Middle East and neighboring Gulf states for conventional work and profits, national skills requirements, human capital optimization through workforce skills development, provincial incorporation of skills in major projects.

    Balochistan, TVET System, TVET Practices, Human Capital Development, Government Policies & Strategies, Curriculum Design, Curriculum Delivery
    (1) Shoaib Younis
    MS Scholar, Institute of Management Sciences, University of Balochistan Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
    (2) Saubia Ramzan
    Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences Business and IT, University of Balochistan Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.
    (3) Nagina Gul
    Assistant Professor, Department of Management Sciences, Faculty of Management Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering & Management Sciences, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakist

05 Pages : 31-38

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-III).05      10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-III).05      Published : Sep 2019

Bureaucratic Efficiency as Determinant of Trade Openness in SAARC Countries

    The study explores how bureaucratic efficiency effects international trade in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Srilanka. A composite indicator of government effectiveness is used to measure bureaucratic efficiency and model is estimated by using the SYS-GMM. It is well recognized that bureaucratic efficiency is vital to the enhancement of trade, whereas the result shows that a negative relationship exists between bureaucratic efficiency and trade openness. Similarly, encouraging link exists between government size and international trade as the government provides different services to enhance the trade at the international market.

    Bureaucratic Efficiency, Democracy, Government Size, Trade Openness
    (1) Rabia Saghir
    Assistant Professor, Faculty of Business and Technology, Foundation University Rawalpindi Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Arshad Khan
    Associate Professor,Department of Management Science, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad.
    (3) Nazima Ellahi
    Assistant Professor,Department of Management Science, Foundation University Rawalpindi Pakistan.

38 Pages : 291-297

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-II).38      10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-II).38      Published : Jun 2019

Moral Suasion or Policy Reforms? How to Tackle Sectarian Violence in Pakistan: The Case Study of Gilgit-Baltistan

    The existing literature in social sciences and humanities analyzing root causes of sectarian and religious conflicts focus mostly on micro-factors. The inability of market and state factors to control sectarian conflict for last seven decades remains understudied by the contemporary literature. This article aims at filling that gap and seeks to identify certain market and government failures that have implications on sectarian and religious conflicts. More specifically, it identifies four market failures namely asymmetries of information, externalities, equity and public goods and three government failures, which include democracy failure, bureaucratic failure and implementation failure. In contrast to the literature shedding light on the impact and gravity of sectarian and religious violence in the country, the purpose here remains to highlight important aspects of public policy reforms for peace making and peace building. This article, based on the aforementioned market and government failures, suggests a whole new set of policy reforms.

    Extremism, Policyreforms, Pakistan, Religion, Sectarianism, Government-Failures, Violence.
    (1) Saranjam Muhammad Baig
    Assistant Professor,College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat Oman.

60 Pages : 464-475

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).60      10.31703/gssr.2019(IV-I).60      Published : Mar 2019

Decentralization and Service Delivery: A Case Study of District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    This article attempts to examine the relationship between decentralization and service delivery through an analysis of the performance of local governments established under the "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2013" with respect to the delivery of basic social services. While exponents of decentralization often argue that the devolution of powers to the lower levels of government improves public service delivery through equity, productive efficiency, and cost recovery, the findings of this study evince that the effects of decentralization on service delivery are often contingent on the social and political dynamics prevalent within a given context.

    Decentralization, Public Service Delivery, District Council Mardan, Local Government.
    (1) Urfi Muhammad
    MPhil Scholar, Department of Political Science, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Sajjad Ali Khan
    Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Ahmad Ali
    Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.

10 Pages : 146-158

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-II).10      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-II).10      Published : Jun 2018

Failure in the English Subject in Government High Schools for Boys in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.

    This descriptive study investigates the failure in the English subject to find out the causes of failure in the English subject in Government High Schools for Boys in district Mardan, so viable suggestions to overcome the failure rate in the English subject in district Mardan, KP Pakistan are proposed. The population of this research is all public high Schools of district Mardan, which were 380 in number. 64 schools were selected through Stratified sampling technique. Questionnaire as research instrument was used for data collection. The collected data was analyzed, interpreted and results were shown in percentage in tabular form. The findings of the study highlighted the failure (33%) in English, (02%) Urdu and (04%) in Pakistan studies. Causes of failure like lack of qualified and well trained teachers, overcrowded classrooms, non-availability of language laboratories and A.V Aids, inappropriate teaching method and lack of Principals’ supervision were identified. At the end provision of qualified and competent teachers, facilities like language laboratories and A.V. Aids, principals’ Proper supervision of classrooms for teachers’ better performance are recommended.

    Failure, English Subject, Government High Schools, Mardan District
    (1) Niamat Shah
    PhD Scholar (Education), Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Niaz Muhammad Aijaz
    Assistant Professor and HoD, Department of Education, Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Idris
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP Pakistan.

07 Pages : 122-136

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).07      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-II).07      Published : Dec 2017

From Peace Talks to Operation Zarb e Azb: Politics of Consensus Building for Counter Terrorism

    Pakistan faced severe challenges of violent extremism and terrorism after US invasion of Afghanistan. The successive governments pursued both political and military means to bring an end to this problem but to no avail. The war against terrorism was highly unpopular among the people and it was the main cause of failure to combat terrorism. In 2013, the newly formed government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to give peace a chance after a decision of an All Parties Conference (APC). Consequently, the dialogue process, through the committee members nominated by the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ensued that kindled the hope of peace and stability in the country. However, the process was crippled after a few months and government launched a military operation against TTP and other militant outfits in the country. The paper explores the factors that lead the government to start peace talks with TTP and analyzes the challenges that dialogue process faced and ultimately caused its failure. Finally, it highlights the benefits, particularly the national consensus to combat terrorism that dialogue process produced despite its failure to bring peace in the country.

    Peace, Talks, Terrorism, Taliban, Military, Operation, Consensus, Government.
    (1) Manzoor Ahmad Naazer
    Assistant Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Sadaf Farooq
    Assistant Professor, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (3) Masood Rehman Khattak
    Lecturer, Department of Politics & International Relations, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan

06 Pages : 91-104

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).06      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).06      Published : Jun 2017

Local Governments and the Provision of Health and Education within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: An assessment

    This paper traces the working of various local governments within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in terms of efficiency while providing health and educational facilities. Only those districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa having a population of at least one million, were taken into account. The performance of six district local governments in the field of education and health was thoroughly analyzed. The main focus was to assess whether local governments were efficient in the provision of the required services or otherwise. In the context of this study, local governments were perceived as firms, each aiming at the efficient provision and welfare of their respective communities / localities. Annual time-series data for the period 2004 to 2015 was taken. The study revealed the performance and efficiency of each of the selected district governments. The study also confirmed the validity of the Tiebout Hypothesis in terms of the local governments of KP in relevance to the provision of health and educational services. The district government primarily revolves around the needs and aspirations of the common people. This system can perform better if properly implemented and monitored in light of the gross root level input.

    Local Government, Tiebout Hypothesis, Health, Education
    (1) Fahim Nawaz
    Lecturer, Department of Economics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
    (2) Kalsoom Inam
    Undergraduate Student, Department of Economics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
    (3) Shagufta Shaheen
    Deputy Director, DMS-IV, GHQ, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

07 Pages : 72-83

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).07      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).07      Published : Jun 2023

Insights into Significant Contribution by Local Government toward Community Development in the Bahawalpur Division

    This research investigates the role of local government institutions in promoting community development in Bahawalpur division from 2001 to 2018. The provision of municipal amenities is crucial for community growth, and local governments are expected to play a significant role in enhancing social, political, and cultural development. However, financial constraints, lack of education, community participation, and infrastructural development hinder their effective functioning. The study used statistical sampling techniques and analyzed the data using regression, and correlation analysis. The results show a positive trend in the contribution of local government towards community development, with a significant positive relation between the local government budget, community participation, education level, and infrastructure development. The study suggests that local governments should prioritize allocating sufficient budgets for community development programs and encourage community engagement in decision-making processes. Overall, the study highlights the significance of local government institutions in promoting community development in Bahawalpur division.

    Budget, Bahawalpur, Community Participation, Decision-making Process, Grassroots Level, Infrastructural Development, Local Government
    (1) Muhammad Asim
    PhD Scholar, Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Ikram Ullah
    Assistant Professor, Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Akhtar
    PhD Scholar, Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.