iRepository (Institute of Business Administration)
Not a member yet
6878 research outputs found
Sort by
Legal reforms for an Islamic banking transformation
No full textPakistan’s banking sector is poised for a major transformation as the Federal Shariat Court and the 26th Constitutional Amendment mandate the elimination of interest by 2027–2028. While Islamic banking assets have grown to over Rs11.5 trillion, the current legal framework remains largely interest-based, creating ambiguity, undermining investor confidence, and complicating dispute resolution. Islamic finance, based on trade, partnership, and risk-sharing contracts like Murabaha and Mudarabah, requires recognition and clarity in statutory law to ensure enforceability and market stability.
The authors emphasize urgent legal reforms, including enacting an Islamic Financial Services Act, mandating Sukuk for government borrowing, establishing a Centralised Shariah Supervisory Board (CSSB) with binding authority, and setting up Specialised Shariah Finance Tribunals (SFTs) to resolve disputes efficiently. Proactive, phased legislative action is critical to meet constitutional obligations, enhance investor confidence, and position Pakistan as a global hub in the $5 trillion Islamic finance industry. Delay could jeopardize the transition, making timely reforms essential
Alternative to new varsity
No full textThe Pakistani government plans to spend £190 million on establishing a new university focused on emerging technologies. Ishrat Husain argues this is not cost-effective and recommends channeling the funds into existing universities through competitive research grants. Citing China\u27s investment in STEM as a successful example, he emphasizes leveraging current academic infrastructure, improving research funding, and avoiding high capital costs of new construction. The proposed model includes creating an endowment, rigorous international vetting of proposals, and transparency to ensure impactful outcomes. Husain cautions against building an institution that may become outdated by the time it\u27s operational, urging instead for flexible, scalable support for existing research ecosystems
Remembering Arshad Zuberi
No full textIt is almost six months since we lost Arshad after his prolonged illness. My association with him over last twenty fve years reminded me of the memories of his character, intellect as well as his sense of enthusiasm. When I returned from Washington after a lapse of twenty years to head the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in very difcult times post-1998 nuclear test, sanctions by the western powers, freezing of accounts of residents and non-residents, military takeover of the country, rock bottom reserves of only 300 million dollars I felt overwhelmed by the challenges facing us. I was settling down in a new environment but did not have much to fall back on in terms of unbiased professional advice as the entire team and leadership was new
How Distributed Leadership leads to Organizational Commitment? Mediating Role of Employees’ Trust in leader and Motivation
No full textBased on social exchange theory, this study examines the effect of distributed leadership on employees’ organizational commitment. Further, investigates the mediating role of employees’ trust in leader and motivation between distributed leadership on employees’ organizational commitment. This study adopted a quantitative research strategy and collected data through questionnaire from 634 employees working in the education sector of Pakistan. Results shows that distributed leadership positively influence organizational commitment. Moreover, employees’ trust in leader and motivation mediates the relationship between distributed leadership and employees’ organizational commitment. This study extended the leadership and organization commitment literature by adding new mechanism (i.e., employees’ trust in leaders and motivation). Implications, limitations and future directions are also discussed
Navigating Regional Trade Complexities Between Pakistan-Afghanistan and United Kingdom-Ireland: Role of International Law and Ethnicity in Shaping Shared Dilemmas Across Diverse Regions
No full textTransforming into a highly integrated global trade system, International Trade is vital for nourishing countries’ economies. Trade has been a cornerstone of economic growth and global development. However, regional complexities in trade sometimes cause damage to countries\u27 economic growth. This paper compares the complexities; shared ethnicities across borders, and legal dilemmas of bilateral trade between Pakistan-Afghanistan and the post-Brexit United Kingdom-Ireland. It sheds light on how these two pole-apart regions are victims of transit trade and how their economies suffer owing to their shared ethnic identities. Explaining the historical background, the role of international law, and relations among masses of both cases the study looks for mutual solutions. With the framework of ethnicity as compulsion and international law as an obligation the paper explores the central question; how shared ethnicity between countries, and international law bind states into a relation that hampers national and regional ties, how historical patterns and national compulsions compress nations not to formulate strong trade policies to check illegal transit trade in their respective regions; and finally how illegal trade adversely affects economies
Navigating the Digital Shift: How Authentic Leadership and AI Foster Sustainable Work-Life Balance for Employees
No full textThis research reveals how AI’s integration into workplace is far-reaching and has potential to greatly enhance employee’s ability to balance work and personal life in presence of effective leadership. Extensive research has explored the benefits of AI in enhancing workplace efficiency, yet its implications on human elements, such as work-life balance, remain underexplored (Korteling et al., 2021, Zhang et al., 2021). These studies also reveal that while AI-driven systems reduce manual workloads, they may inadvertently lead to an “always-on” culture. Existing literature underscores the necessity of aligning AI capabilities with organizational values to foster a supportive environment (Xu et al., 2021).Moreover, Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances effective leadership by providing data-driven insights, automating repetitive tasks, and improving team management. AI tools like predictive analytics help managers to overcome challenges, allocate resources efficiently, and create strategies that support work-life balance and employee satisfaction. (Yannick Peifer, 2022). This study seeks to explore all types of complexities, focusing on how AI can enhance work-life balance by assisting authentic leadership positively.
This research is aimed to explore: Relationship among Authentic leadership, Work life balance and Artificial intelligence Combined effect of authentic leadership & Artificial intelligence on employee work-life balance
Reimagining Management Curriculum: Integrating Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence to shape Future-Ready Professionals
No full textThe corporate environment is changing due to the combination of global sustainability issues and the quick development of artificial intelligence (AI), necessitating a radical change in management education. Future leaders cannot be adequately prepared to navigate and lead in this complicated, AI-driven, and sustainability-constrained world by traditional management curriculum, which are frequently based on profit-maximization and siloed disciplines. In order to develop the interdisciplinary skills necessary for moral leadership, conscientious innovation, and long-term value generation, this conceptual paper promotes the incorporation of sustainability and artificial intelligence into management education. This paper presents a theoretical framework for curriculum integration across three tiers: foundational knowledge, interdisciplinary applications, and experiential learning. It is based on a new educational philosophy that prioritizes long-term thinking, ecological awareness, and stakeholder-centric strategies. In order to train professionals capable of tackling linked technology and environmental concerns, it highlights critical future-ready abilities such as sustainability literacy, AI and data literacy, systems thinking, ethical reasoning, and strategic foresight. Alongside institutional reforms in curriculum governance, industry engagement, and faculty development, pedagogical innovations including problem-based learning, AI-enhanced simulations, and collaborative, case-based instruction are suggested. The contextual requirements of emerging nations, where inadequate educational infrastructure may impede integration efforts, are given particular consideration. In the conclusion, the paper offers practical suggestions for stakeholders, policy makers, and academic institutions to reimagine management education as a means of developing tech-enabled, mission-driven professionals in a world that is becoming more digitally connected and sustainability-focused
Fostering Innovative Work Behavior Through Empowering Leadership and Organizational Culture: A Strategic Perspective from the Pharmaceutical Industry
No full textPurpose This study explores how empowering leadership and an innovative organizational culture influence employees’ innovative work behavior. It also examines whether perceived organizational support plays a role in linking these factors to innovation at work.
Study Design The research followed a quantitative, cross-sectional design and used a deductive approach. Data was gathered from 200 employees working in pharmaceutical companies based in Karachi, using purposive sampling. SPSS and Smart PLS 4 were used to analyze the responses.
Findings The results show that both empowering leadership and a culture that supports innovation significantly contribute to encouraging innovative behavior among employees. Perceived organizational support also positively impacts innovation. However, its mediating role between leadership, culture and innovative behavior was not found to be statistically significant.
Originality This study brings a fresh perspective by focusing on the pharmaceutical sector in Karachi—a field where research on leadership, culture, and innovation is still growing. It offers insights into how these elements interact in real workplace settings.
Research Limitations Since data was collected only from pharmaceutical employees in Karachi, the findings cannot be applied to other industries or regions. The limited timeframe also restricted the scope of the research.
Practical Implications Pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to create environments that promote leadership styles and cultures that support innovation, helping employees feel empowered and motivated to contribute creatively.
Social Implications Building a supportive and innovative workplace can lead to more engaged employees and a more dynamic, forward-thinking organizational culture that benefits society as a whole
The impact of Cross-border M&As on CSR activities of the Acquiring firms: International Evidence on French Firms
No full textThis study examines the impact of cross-border mergers and acquisitions on the CSR activities of the French acquiring firms using panel data from 235 French acquiring firms from 2000 to 2022, employing a generalized method of moment (GMM) technique. We also used a Sargan & Hansen test for instrument validity and the AR test for second-order autocorrelation. Both tests give support to the model. We found that cross-border mergers and acquisitions significantly positively impact the CSR practices of the acquiring firms in the French context
The Dual Challenge: Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability
No full textThe balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability has become a primary global concern in recent years. The factors necessary to drive economic development simultaneously deteriorate the environmental quality. This paper attempts to unearth variables that are essential for economic growth as well as for improving environmental quality such as economic freedom, trade, in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy consumption. The study is conducted on a large panel of data which includes countries from all regions of the world. We find a significant negative impact of economic growth and globalisation on environmental quality. Whereas renewable energy, economic freedom and low-carbon technology imports all have a significant positive impact on environmental quality. Our extended analysis indicates that the impact of economic growth factors on carbon emissions varies between developed and developing countries