CSRC Publishing: Open Journal Systems (Center for Sustainability Research and Consultancy)
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Islamic Banking Prospects, Challenges and Criticism: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textPurpose: The article covers the prospects, challenges and criticism of Islamic Banking. There is still a confusion among people about the differences in Islamic and commercial banking. The implementation of Islamic banking is not as per the true spirit with which it was started.
Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review was conducted and a thorough research was carried out by studying 2725 articles and finally qualifying thirty articles (30 articles) for the review
Findings: The results revealed that there is still a confusion among people regarding the difference between Islamic and Conventional banking. The Islamic banks should organize more awareness programs to improve the knowledge of people regarding Islamic banks. The social objectives of Islamic banks are not highlighted from their operations.
Implications/Originality/Value: This articles contributes to the literature by giving important insights regarding the Islamic Banking industry. The Islamic Banks can definitely improve by adopting the suggestions given in paper
Usage of Facebook an Inspiration or a Distraction for Students on their Academic Performance
No full textPurpose: It has been observed that social networking sites especially Facebook is affecting the performance of the students. The purpose of this paper is to explore and study the experiences of students with Facebook on their academic performance.
Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative research methodology is used as it sheds light on the experiences of people involved and makes an attempt to understand the reasons behind certain behavioral change. The students of undergraduate program of various departments of different private and public academic institutions are taken in account for this research study. Based on the extensive review of literature, semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection.
Findings: Data gathered from the interviews have clearly indicated the adverse effect of Facebook on students’ academic performance which can be seen in the interview excerpts of different students. Review of literature also indicates that the overwhelming usage of Facebook is creating silo walls that isolate people from family, friends and society.
Practical Implications: The study provides the guidance to teachers, academicians, educationists, researchers, regulators, parents and students for change in pattern of behavior and its consequences on students’ academic performance. Furthermore, the study brings awareness among undergraduate students about how Facebook affects their academic performance.
Originality/Value: This study is among few studies that thoroughly explore and describe the devastating impact of overwhelm use of Facebook on students’ academic performance
Effects of International Migration on Human Socio-Economic Development in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK): A Case Study of District Bhimber
No full textPurpose: This study aims to explore the effects of international migration on human socio-economic development in district Bhimber, AJK.
Methodology: Data were collected through a survey with the help of a well-structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used for selection of study respondents. At the first stage one tehsil (Ambala Barnala) out of three tehsils of district Bhimber was selected randomly. In second stage, five localities (Union Councils) viz; Barnala, Watala, Pangali, Patni and Mallot were selected randomly. At the final stage, migrated families were identified through snowball sampling technique and convenient sample of 200 respondents (40 from each locality) from the emigrants’ family were picked up. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for data analysis using SPSS software.
Findings: Results revealed that migration increased their income, stabilized their employment, and ensured better living conditions. We also find that various pull factors which negated migration included i.e. opportunities of higher income and better educational facilities and push factor like favored migration included lack of employment opportunities. We also find that age, education, income, duration of migration, and nature of work were associated determinants of human socio-economic development.
Implications: It is recommended that Government should provide basic health, educational and economic opportunities to people in the selected area. Moreover, vocational training and technical institutions for capacity building of people is a workable and viable strategy to change the migration attitude.
Keywords: Migration, Immigrants, determinant factors, Socio-economic developmen
An Analysis of Sovereign Credit Ratings Impact on Financial Development in South Africa
No full textPurpose: The study analyses the effects of sovereign credit ratings on financial development in South Africa. This became important considering that the country has been receiving negative ratings of late.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Quarterly data for the period 1994-2017 was analysed using the Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration model and its associated statistics. The Error Correction Model (ECM) was implemented to augment the results of ARDL analysing the short run dynamics. The model was chosen given the order of integration of the variables. Financial development was selected since it influences financial conditions and financial sector stability.
Findings: The statistical results revealed that sovereign ratings positively influence financial variables that is in other words higher ratings are found to contribute positively to the growth of the financial development sector. Negative ratings are likely to affect the financial system as due to low access to external funding and exodus of investors, financial development is halted or decreased.
Implications/Originality/Value: The results suggest that authorities need to consider the factors which are targeted by rating agencies and ensure that they perform as expected. Governments should focus on raising sovereign ratings and avoiding downgrades to boost financial development
Growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in MENA Countries: Constraints and Success Factors
No full textPurpose: This study attempts to contribute to a better understanding of the main constraints/ boosters for MSME growth in selected countries of the MENA region (Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Jordan).
Design/Methodology/Approach: A multinomial logit model is used to investigate the impact of a three-fold classification of firm growth determinants (company characteristics, manager characteristics and business environment characteristics). The database is provided by the World Bank Enterprise Surveys (MENA ES).
Findings: Results give statistically robust evidence that innovative firms are more likely to grow.
Implications/Originality/Value: Therefore, the implementation of efficient and well-governed systems of innovation is a priority in the MENA region.
 
Conceptual Framework for Teaching Sustainable Development Course in Blended Learning Environment
No full textPurposes: This paper presents a conceptual framework for teaching sustainable development courses in an online learning environment in institutions of higher education. Sustainability development courses are becoming essential in higher education institutions mainly to educate the younger generations who will be part of the community to make it happen. Higher education institutions are experiencing dramatic shift to cater a young generation of prospective students, to integrate technical innovations in teaching practices and to concentrate on increasing concerns about global sustainability issues. There has been little research to promote an innovative learning in the teaching of sustainable development. The goal of this paper was to create a framework for teaching sustainable development in a virtual learning environment (blended learning) due to the lack of a conceptual framework that could direct this implementation.
Findings: Hence, the blended learning method is eco-friendly, whereby protects global environmental resources. For hands-on experiences, students will develop projects to make their campus and community more sustainable. In the process, students learn how to analyse sustainability and able to apply online learning knowledge into practice.
Implication: The conceptual framework proposed will support all educators in higher education institutions engaged in the promotion of quality online education in this pandemic circumstance to develop an effective online practise that are aligned with the corresponding learning needs, skills and facilities
Impact of Private TV Channels and its Commodification of Religious Programs
No full textPurpose: This paper examined some societies; religion itself is a complex subject, and then creating its content in the media is no less of a challenge. Especially in a society like Pakistan, where people are more sensitive in the name of religion and what is being said on TV soon spreads like wildfire on social media. The study looked at the extent to which Pakistani TV channels believe in commercialism and how far they can go for this purpose. To what extent has the aspect of commodification been embedded in Pakistani TV channels? One of the purposes of this research is to obtain and rate advertisements for the content produced and presented for TV. The questions are severe, and two different approaches have been adopted in the research method to find the answers.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study deals with the religious media contents and its public. This method is most commonly used in clinical research, schools, social organizations, or the research in which the domain is fixed. The systematic random sampling technique is applied in the selection of contents. This study reveals the religious commercialization and commodification done by Pakistani television channels. Due to the specification of the nature of TV contents, relevance is the most obvious factor.
Findings: The finding shows that the majority opinion, the religious qualifications of the anchors of religious programs or their grasp on religious subjects are not much appreciated? In addition, the analysis of the material revealed that commercial advertisements run during religious shows on Pakistani TV channels. Still, at the same time, segments are also produced on a commercial basis..
Implications/Originality/Value: Religious content can be studied from further angles with regard to innovation and change for commercial purposes. These include the use of music, the movements of anchors in religious shows, the dissent of religious scholars, the use of glamor in religious programs, and the sale of life in the name of religion
An Unnoticed Hero of Pakistan's Independence Movement: A Case of Biography Mr. Naseem Hijazi
No full textPurpose: In this article, Mr. Naseem Hijazi, a lesser-known hero of the Pakistan Movement, is highlighted. The primary purpose of this paper is to expose the hidden aspects of Mr. Naseem Hijazi's life. He was a well-known novelist and writer, as well as a freedom fighter. He was a member of the Pakistan Movement, but few people were aware of his involvement. He was a devoted Muslim and a firm believer in Islam. This research paper investigates and analyses the life of Naseem Hijazi to get a complete image of him.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This research demonstrates that delving into individual biographies might provide a contextualized view of Naseem Hijazi's life, allowing for a complete picture of him. This study employed a qualitative content analysis method to examine Naseem Hijazi's biography during the Independence Movement.
Findings: The finding shows that Naseem Hejazi had a passion for life that could enthrall any of his companions. During a radio interview, Syed Hashim Raza described his relationship with Naseem Hejazi, saying that the Muslim League was the only party working to establish Pakistan between 1940 and 1947. Naseem Hejazi was one of those who stood behind Quaid-e-Azam throughout those times and was respected by all. Naseem Hejazi, I believe, ran half of the pro-Muslim League propaganda effort in Baluchistan, while Mir Jaffer Khan Jamali ran the other half. Quetta's Pasban Fortnightly, June 15 (1939: 6).
Implications/Originality/Value: In such a situation, history books about the Pakistan Movement should be rewritten to acknowledge Naseem Hejazi's work as one of the nation's benefactors.
Does A Relationship Exist between Poverty Human Capital and Economic Development in Pakistan A Case Study of Bahawalpur Division
No full textPurpose: To pursue the poverty reduction goals, various socio-economic, demographic, human development factors should be linked together for a better quality of life and good macro-economic performance of the developing countries. The present study focuses on the Bahawalpur division, Pakistan.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A household survey was conducted to collect data from 353 household heads. i.e., respondents using the Binomial Logit and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression techniques.
Findings: The findings of the study reveal that human capital is the most influencing factor that positively affects the per capita income of households. Moreover, Human capital shows a negative relationship with the household’s poverty.
Implications/Originality/Value: Long-term planning and programs are necessary for the promotion of the human capital of the respondents. i.e., households of the Bahawalpur division. It would further promote job opportunities for raising the standard of living of the people living in this region
Sectoral Investment and Trade in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis
No full textPurpose: This study is conducted to examine the effectiveness of Investment in various sectors of the economy on exports of Pakistan over the period from 1972 to 2018.
Methodology: For this purpose, World Development Indicators and Handbook of Statistics on Pakistan Economy have been utilized to collect time-series data on the related variables. Moreover, the econometric results have been calculated using the ARDL approach and diagnostics statistics are based on Normality Test, Ramsey RESET test and stability tests.
Findings: The long-run results explore that Investments in the Agriculture & Manufacturing sectors, Terms of Trade and Human Capital are increasing exports of Pakistan while investments in Services & Transportation sectors are reducing exports of Pakistan.
Implications: Based on econometric results, it is suggested that investments in manufacturing and agriculture sectors should be enhanced through low interest rates or by providing opportunities to the private sector so that it may lead to higher growth and exports