SEARCH ARTICLE

19 Pages : 332-353

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).19      10.31703/gssr.2018(III-III).19      Published : Sep 2018

Interplay of Direct Anti Smoking Public Service Advertisements and Anti-Smoking Messages Placement Disclosures in Movies with Attitude to Quit Smoking

    Recently, the Ministry of Health Pakistan decreed that disclosures of anti- smoking messages placement in the movies should be used whereby fear based cognitive anti-smoking message is shown. Consistent with the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) assumption that persuasion messages likely influence the attitude of the relatively unmotivated individuals. This study is the first which tests and compare the ability of anti-smoking persuasion messages presented in the Direct Anti-smoking public service Advertisements (DAA) and Anti-smoking messages Placement Disclosures in movies (APD) in determining viewer’s Attitude to Quit Smoking (AQS). Hence, this attempt overcomes deficient understanding about the effects of disclosing anti-smoking advertisement placement. In a between-subject experiment (N = 120), we measure the smokers’ attitudes in the result of the direct anti-smoking advertisements along with the APDs in movies. Results of the experiment show that attitude to quit smoking becomes stronger when a direct anti-smoking advertisement and anti-smoking disclosure is shown. However, analyses based on Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) on Advanced Analysis for Composites (ADANCO) 2.0.1 (a new software for variance-based SEM) attitude to quit smoking is significantly higher when the anti-smoking message disclosure is shown during the movie scenes. These results have significant implications for persuasion theories and public policy about anti-smoking campaigns.

    Elaboration likelihood model (ELM), Direct Anti-smoking public service Advertisements (DAA), Anti-smoking messages placement disclosures in movies (APD), Attitude to quit smoking (AQS), Partial least
    (1) Syed Hassan Raza
    Lecture, Department of Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Anjum Zia
    Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Moneeba Iftikhar
    Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

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.

07 Pages : 72-80

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2026(XI-I).07      10.31703/gssr.2026(XI-I).07      Published : Mar 2026

Good Governance in Pakistan’s Public Service: Assessing Transparency, Accountability, and Bureaucratic Challenges

    Good governance has become a focal point of good administration of the populace, and sustainable development, especially in developing nations, where institutional weaknesses tend to discredit the state's capacity. This paper analyses the concept and reality of good governance in the Pakistani public service with special reference to transparency, accountability, and bureaucratic corruption. Regardless of the numerous governance reforms and introduction of accountability mechanisms, Pakistan has been grappling with poor service delivery, poor institutional control, and deteriorating trust in the institutions of the state. Qualitative research design was used in the collection of data, which was conducted based on semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and secondary governance indicators. The results indicate that policy systems that promote good governance are formally present, but there is inconsistency in their execution because of political interventions, poor accountability systems, and the presence of bureaucratic cultures.

    Good Governance, Public Service, Transparency, Accountability, Bureaucratic Corruption, Pakistan
    (1) Zermina Tasleem
    Assistant Professor, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Sohail Ayaz Muhammad
    Assistant Professor, Hasan Murad School of Management, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Muqarrab Akbar
    Professor, Department of Political Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.