中巴(基斯坦)政治、外交关系的回顾与展望

今年5月21日是中巴建交53周年。这53年来,中巴政治、外交关系在经历了20世纪50年代相互怀疑的暂时低潮后,得到了持续健康的发展,时至今日,中巴已经成为患难与共的“全天候朋友”。本在对这一阶段的历史做了回顾,对中巴政治、外交关系的特点进行了分析、评述,并对中巴政治、外交关系的前景作了展望。     

Efficient resource utilization of the electricity distribution sector using nonparametric data envelopment analysis and influential factors

This study aims to investigate the efficient resource utilization of the electricity distribution sector in Pakistan and identifies the influential factors affecting it. In Pakistan, there is excess production capacity and under-utilized power plants, which pose a challenge to the economy due to their burden on the exchequer account and the high power costs. The present study employs the most recent 11 distribution firms panel data from Pakistan for the period 2016–2020 to evaluate the performance ranking of distribution utilities. The study employs standard frontiers, composite indexes, and a novel DEA-windows analysis to measure the efficiency of the distribution utilities. The results of the analysis show that electricity sales, consumer density, and industrial consumers have a positive impact, while distribution losses have a negative association with the efficiency of the distribution utilities. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders in improving the resource utilization and overall performance of the electricity distribution sector. The study highlights the implications of the results in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are one of the main contributors to global warming. In conclusion, this study provides an essential contribution to the literature on efficient resource utilization in the electricity distribution sector in Pakistan.     

Atmospheric corrosion kinetics and dynamics of electrogalvanized mild steel in southeastern coastal area of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor

This study aims to examine atmospheric corrosivity, corrodants, and corrosion products of southeastern coastal area of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor as per ISO protocols 9223 and 9225, and ASTM standards G1, G50, G140-02, D4458-94, and D2010. Test sites are located at National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) at the banks of the Arabian Sea. Electrogalvanized mild steel test coupons were exposed, and levels of corrodants (sulfur dioxide, chloride, and time of wetness) were measured for a period of 24 months, from May 2014 to May 2016. Corrosivity category C5+ is established in terms of the corrosion rate for both NIO and KPT test stations, which does not coincide with the corrosivity category C5 ascertained by employing environmental characteristics and atmospheric corrodants. Corrosion kinetic parameter “n” and correlation coefficient (R²) are 0.71 and 0.97 for NIO and 0.96 and 0.97 for KPT, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy have corroborated the presence of simonkolleite and hydrozincite, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxychloride, and zinc in corrosion products at both test sites.     

Quality Management in Pakistan's Readymade Garments' Industry

Pakistan's readymade garments' industry is a key player in Pakistan's industry in general, and its textile industrial output and exports in particular. In a liberalizing international trade regime, quality will be a critical success factor in the international competitiveness of Pakistan's readymade garments. Research in quality management in Pakistan's readymade garments' industry was undertaken. To gain further information, a postal self-completion questionnaire was mailed to 101 members of the Pakistan Readymade Garments' and Exporters' Association (PRGMEA). The response rate was 32%. It was found that while this industrial segment was in various stages of development, it needs to graduate fast to advanced quality management concepts of Kaizen and total quality management in order to maintain its competitive advantage in an environment that will soon be liberalized fully.     

Tolerated noise levels in the U.K. and Pakistan and simultaneous thermal comfort

External noise is often given as a reason for air-conditioning buildings. This paper describes some pilot studies that examined climatic variation in noise tolerance and the interaction with the thermal environment. Through further studies it is hoped to establish criteria to judge the acceptability of naturally ventilated buildings in noisy areas.     

Petroleum Geochemistry of Lower Indus Basin,Pakistan: II. Oil-oil and Oil-source Rock Correlation

Nine crude oils and eight source rock samples from Cretaceous sequences, Lower Indus Basin have been characterized by means of diagnostic biomarker parameters in order to establish genetic liaison among them. The biomarker geochemistry indicators such as relative distribution of C₂₇-C₂₈-C₂₉ ααα-20R steranes, C₁₉ and C₂₃ tricyclic terpanes (TT), C₂₄ tetracyclic terpanes (TeT), hopanes distribution, steranes/hopanes ratio, presence of unidentified compound X (C₃₀ pentacyclic triterpane), and pristane (Pr) to phytane (Ph) ratio suggest that the crude oils contain predominantly terrigenous organic matter (OM). Based on these data, the analyzed crude oils from the Lower Indus Basin are genetically associated and could be classified into a single group. Geochemical correlation studies of crude oils and source rock sediments indicate that Lower Goru shales and Sembar could be the probable source rocks for the petroleum generated from Cretaceous strata, Lower Indus Basin, Pakistan.     

Steps towards an Afghanistan–Pakistan water-sharing agreement

Negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan to share the international watercourses in the Kabul Basin will involve complex networks of natural, societal and political systems. The natural systems are strongly influenced by climate change; societal interests include an economy based on agriculture; and the region in both states is subject to turmoil and insecurity. Given these complexities, the recent joint announcement by the finance ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan of plans to construct a hydropower project on the Kunar River is a significant step. However, much work remains to jointly develop and manage the waters in the Kabul Basin.     

A Question Mark on Zinc Deficiency in 185 Million People in Pakistan—Possible Way Out

This paper reviews research published in recent years concerning the effects of zinc deficiency, its consequences, and possible solutions. Zinc is an essential trace element necessary for over 300 zinc metalloenzymes and required for normal nucleic acid, protein, and membrane metabolism. Zinc deficiency is one of the ten biggest factors contributing to burden of disease in developing countries. Populations in South Asia, South East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa are at greatest risk of zinc deficiency. Zinc intakes are inadequate for about a third of the population and stunting affects 40% of preschool children. In Pakistan, zinc deficiency is an emerging health problem as about 20.6% children are found in the levels of zinc, below 60 μg/dL. Signs and symptoms caused by zinc deficiency are poor appetite, weight loss, and poor growth in childhood, delayed healing of wounds, taste abnormalities, and mental lethargy. As body stores of zinc decline, these symptoms worsen and are accompanied by diarrhea, recurrent infection, and dermatitis. Daily zinc requirements for an adult are 12–16 mg/day. Iron, calcium and phytates inhibit the absorption of zinc therefore simultaneous administration should not be prescribed. Zinc deficiency and its effects are well known but the ways it can help in treatment of different diseases is yet to be discovered. Improving zinc intakes through dietary improvements is a complex task that requires considerable time and effort. The use of zinc supplements, dietary modification, and fortifying foods with zinc are the best techniques to combat its deficiency.     

Effect of rice husk co-combustion with coal on gaseous emissions and combustion efficiency

Investigation on co-combustion of Lakhra coal and rice husk blends was carried out in a drop tube furnace to measure its impact on flue gas emissions and carbon burnout. According to experimental results, the emissions of NO and SO₂ were higher in case of combustion of Lakhra coal compared to coal?–rice husk blends combustion. The emissions of CO decreased rapidly at higher furnace temperatures beyond 900°C. Minimum of CO emissions were nearly 45 ppm while SO₂ and NO emissions were found to be 554 and 120 ppm, respectively, for 15% biomass blending ratio and at exit furnace temperature of 1000°C. The unburnt carbon was found to be reduced significantly with an increase in furnace temperature and blending ratio. The study has shown that blending of rice husk would be a useful option to minimize SO₂ and NO emissions during combustion of Lakhra coal.     

Seasonal Accuracy Assessments of Three Land Cover Datasets in Pakistan

Global land cover datasets play an important role in the fields of ecology, climate and resources. GlobeLand30-2010 (30 m), FROM-GLC-2010 (30 m) and GlobCover-2009 (300 m) are three global high-precision land cover datasets with a wide range of applications. In order to judge whether these data sets are sufficient to describe the real situation of land cover in different seasons, the inter-seasonal accuracy of the aforementioned three global land cover datasets using Pakistan as a representative study area was evaluated. A total of 1 000 land cover sample points were selected from 122 Landsat-5, Landsat-7 multi-spectral remote sensing images during 2009~2011 to generate summer and winter land cover classifications.The results show that the accuracies of summer and winter land cover classifications are different in Pakistan. The overall land cover classification accuracies of GlobeLand30-2010 (65.6% vs. 63.9%) and FROM-GLC-2010 (61.2% vs. 59.0%) in summer are slightly higher than those in winter. The overall accuracy of GlobCover-2009 (59.5% vs. 59.1%) in winter is slightly higher than that in summer. GlobeLand30-2010 performs best in classifying cropland, impervious surface, and water body, FROM-GLC-2010 performs best in classifying vegetation, glaciers, and snow, and GlobCover-2009 performs best in classifying bare land. The classification of cropland, bare land, glaciers, and snow in the three datasets is more in line with the real situation in winter than in summer; the classification of vegetation and water bodies is more in line with the real situation in summer; there is no obvious seasonal difference in impervious surface. There should be at least one sample point per 1 000 square kilometers.