Journal of Development Policy Research & Practice (JoDPRP)
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Attitude of University Students towards the Teaching Profession in Pakistan: A Case of Public Sector Universities
Get PDFTeaching is considered a noble profession all over the world (Chakraborty and Mondal 2015). For a successful teaching-learning process, teachers must have an interest and favourable attitude towards teaching. The primary objective of the study was to explore the attitude of university students towards the teaching profession. The attitude of students was also compared based on gender, university affiliation, and disciplines. For this purpose, the ‘Attitude Scale towards Teaching Profession’ questionnaire by Tezci and Terzi (2010) was adapted. Data was collected from 598 respondents of two public sector universities in Pakistan i.e., The Islamia University of Bahawalpur and Fatima Jinnah Women University – both public sector universities in the province of Punjab by using convenient sampling technique. Of the 598 respondents, 384 were females and 214 were males. Google forms were used for the collection of data. For data analysis Independent T-test and one-way ANOVA were applied. Results showed that there was no significant difference in attitude towards the teaching profession in terms of gender and university affiliation. However, a significant difference was observed based on discipline
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
Economic Reform and Urban Development: Karachi’s Informal Textile Industry
Get PDFCities in developing countries, like Pakistan, have a complex array of economic, demographic, governance and geopolitical challenges that require collective action. Urban policy and planning being the domain of political, economic, and capital seeking players, socio spatial disparities caused by socioeconomic friction need careful investigation. Karachi’s informal industrial economy is an important case for analysis and learning about future planning of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and their local as well as regional geographical implications. Being a major industrial player in the textile sector, this study investigates Karachi’s informal textile garment industry and its sectors to understand the impact of current structural adjustment and urban development projects on local economic activity and influence on the spatial configuration of the city. This paper also examines linkages between the formal textile SMEs of Karachi and the emergence of informal activities through labour, production, and spatial placement.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs.
Cost of Access to Justice and Exclusion in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis
Get PDFThis paper examines the cost of access to justice and analyses whether such a cost is affordable by the average citizen of Pakistan. It is assumed that the foundation on which the current judicial system has evolved is unfair. It facilitates the rich and wealthy, while the poor are excluded as they cannot bear the cost of access to justice. The paper tests this assumption of accessibility due to cost presumption of exclusion empirically based on primary data collected from lawyers in the District Courts of Islamabad (Pakistan), together with data on the average income of representative individuals from the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2015-16 (PBS 2017). The paper shows the cost of access to justice in different types of cases across various types of courts in Islamabad, and then compares the cost with the average income per year of an ordinary citizen. It finds that the average cost of almost all types of cases is higher than what an average Pakistani can afford. The study notes that one of the reasons for this costly access to justice is because lawyers’ earnings are linked with the disputes on commercial basis. Hence, affordable access requires that judicial disputes between people should not become sources of earning for others and should be resolved with non-commercial objectives.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
China’s Soft Power: Effective International Media Presence from Chi-Fast to Chi-Film
Get PDFAlthough many scholars have highlighted China’s soft power diplomacy and its dimensions, this paper argues that China has strong soft power resources but does not have an effective international media presence to sell its story. Moreover, China lacks a global presence which brands like McDonalds, KFC, and Hollywood represent in the form of a strong American economy, culture, and history. Therefore, this paper suggests that China can enhance its soft power by setting up fast food chains with Chinese characteristics and Chinese film productions in other regions in general and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries in particular.
 
Understanding a Big Elephant and its Small Chains: SWOT Analysis of Pakistan’s Economy
Get PDF‘What we Foreign Direct Investors need is a level playing field.’ This was claimed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a multinational corporation (MNC) operating in Pakistan for more than 50 years, on two separate occasions during 2015-18. This idiom motivated the authors to understand business nuances associated with Pakistan’s economy not being captured by indices such as the ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ (EDBI) and ‘Global Competitiveness Index’ (GCI) primarily because of their measurement in quantitative terms. By conducting a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the country’s business environment, with the help of in-depth interviews with the CEOs of 19 MNCs and three national corporations (NCs), this study tries to capture some of these nuances. The respondents, based on their availability, were drawn from ten different industries. Based on the analysis, it can be inferred that ‘enduring’, ‘flimsy’, ‘enormous’ and ‘manageable’ are the four words which may be used to define the strengths and weaknesses associated with the opportunities and threats to Pakistan as a market.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
Governance and Civic Capacity for the Provision of Drinking Water in Urban Sindh, Pakistan
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to analyse governance and civic capacity for service delivery in the drinking water sector in urban Sindh, Pakistan. The research was designed to systematically analyse the patterns of success and failure of drinking water initiatives in Hyderabad and Sukkur using qualitative methodology with Focus Group Discussion and interviews to understand the roles of collective action, partnerships, local experiences and cooperation alongside governmental and regulatory oversight related to drinking water. It highlights incentives for different actors involved in infrastructure development and maintenance, pricing and regulation. Case studies of collective action in the drinking water sector across Sindh have also been discussed. The main findings of the study are that piped drinking water quality remains poor in emerging cities like Hyderabad and Sukkur and citizen participation in water governance is very limited due to the obstructionist attitudes of local water management bureaucracy. Participatory approaches in governance can be used to harness action from the community in designing, planning and overseeing water service delivery. When used effectively, such models can help inform policymakers, improve knowledge about existing infrastructure, enhance access to information and reduce corruption.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
Youth Development in Pakistan: A Provincial Analysis
Get PDFThe paper studies youth development in Pakistan from a provincial lens and examines policies and relevant measures of each province in this regard. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to education are also evaluated and it is observed that literacy rate remains low due to lack of access and quality education. There is not enough spending from provincial governments on the education sector. There is also dearth of technical and vocational training institutes at the provincial level which hampers skill development among youth. Lack of funds and outdated training materials are the main reasons for low enrolment in such institutes. Unemployment rate among youth needs to be curtailed by providing them ample opportunities and capacity building. It is recommended that more vocational training institutes should be established along with increasing their budgetary allocations. Career counseling centres at district level are also required.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
Wealth of Parliamentarians vs. General Public: Evidence from 2013 General Elections of Pakistan
Get PDFThis study compares net average assets of Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in the General Elections of 2013 in Pakistan and the public to examine whether the former are representative of common people on the basis of asset holding. The findings show that distribution of the net average assets of elected MPs is significantly different from the distribution of net average assets of the general public of Pakistan. All MPs, on average, fall in the top rich 5% people in the country. In other words, 95% MPs are not representative of the general people on the basis of asset holding. The study suggests that until the role of wealth is not decreased, there may not be any improvement in true representation of the people; and their basic issues such as health and education may remain unresolved.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs
Romania’s National Plan against Illegal Logging: An Analysis of the Public Proposal
Get PDFThis study analyses the extent to which the Romanian National Plan Against Illegal Logging (Planul Național de Combatere a Tăierilor Ilegale de Arbori (PNCTIA) fulfils the conditions of a functional public policy proposal; the degree of knowledge specialists (forestry staff, policemen, prosecutors); and the general public have about it; what efficiency they attribute to it; and the need for a new strategy. The main limitations of PNCTIA with respect to defining and formulating the public policy issue were identified using the document analysis technique. Moreover, the questionnaire technique was employed to evaluate the specialists and the public view towards the plan. Over 40% of the interviewees consider PNCTIA to be inefficient, while 33% were undecided. 77% wished for the adoption of a new public policy; 85% highlighted the matter as urgent. The low level of efficiency of PNCTIA was correlated with the need to have another intervention plan and with high urgency to implement the measures. The perspective of having a new programme correlates positively both with institutional involvement and with urgency level of the actions. The study highlights the importance of participatory processes in the development of public policies.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs.
Quality Assurance of Teacher Education Programs - A Dilemma of Higher Education in Bahawalpur Division, Pakistan
Get PDFTeachers’ training and teacher training programs are attracting the attention of a wide range of academicians and policymakers these days. The Government of Pakistan has provided a standard for the accreditation of teacher training programs recently. This study attempts to determine the extent of implementation of these standards in teachers’ training programs in Pakistan. Data was collected for this study using in-depth qualitative interviews. The target population was the teachers of higher education institutions in the Bahawalpur Division offering teacher training programs. Data were collected from those 20 respondents who were voluntarily willing to participate in the study. Using content analysis technique, the authors show that currently only one standard criterion, that is assessment quality of the program is up to the mark. The study shows that teachers are dissatisfied with the quality of the curriculum, finances provided by the institutions, research culture, governmental policy towards government institutions, and links with the community. The respondents indicate that the government policy towards teacher training programs is the main hurdle towards the enhancement of the quality of teacher training programs. The government should apply the same policy in teacher training programs with regard to public and private institutions for obtaining the degree as private institutions do not follow the same criteria for awarding the degree e.g., students of private institutions do not attend the institutes regularly. There is a dire need to implement approved standards in teacher training programs in Pakistan.
The scope of this article is related to the following SDG / SDGs