Journalists are expected to perform truthfully and ethically which contributes to the strengthening of democracy by sharing reliable information. However, the political economy of media suggests that political and economic elites use the media for their vested interests. Politicians and media owners exploit working journalists. Journalists are not well paid, and they are forced to do unethical practices. The present study explores the journalists’ economic issues at Gujranwala (A city of Punjab, Pakistan) and how economic issues affect the ethical practices of journalists. Data was collected through in-depth interviews of 13 working journalists of Gujranwala city. Findings revealed that journalists are facing serious economic issues and these issues are leading them to unethical practices. It is suggested that government, judiciary, NGOs and journalistic bodies should play an effective role for overcoming this alarming situation.

The study identifies the factors of intra temporal and intra generational household mobility in three districts of Central Punjab. The intra- temporal household mobility estimates the direction of transformation as disequalizing long term income. For the current analysis, three districts of Central Punjab are selected for data collection using literacy rate as prevalence rate. The results of the study show an improvement in education of head of household and other household members which may lead to upward transformation. Furthermore, geography and occupation progression contribute to inter temporal and intra generational mobility in Central Punjab. The results show big cities of central Punjab have considerable benefits of occupational movers from one sector to another as there are sufficient job opportunities available to the households and in rural areas of all the districts households are reluctant to get the benefits of occupational movement. The study concludes that most of the heads of household are educated but occupationally deprived which lead to low extent of intra generational mobility as compared to intra temporal mobility.

This paper highlights the importance of energy in the determination of growth for economy of Pakistan. This study has been taken for the period of 1972-2015. Along with energy consumption some other important variables are also put into investigation. The Johansson co-integration estimation technique has been used to estimate the required impact. The results show that energy consumption contributed positively and significantly to long run economic growth. While the said impact is statistically insignificant in the short run, the study suggested on the basis of results that energy sources should be explored to boost which may possible to satisfy the energy need of the country and to get guaranteed economic growth in the long run. Therefore, Government should pay special attention toward the country’s energy sector to stabilize the economy which assures prosperity in the country.

Economic recession of 2009 marked the end of the US dominance in the world. The subsequent period brought transition in the global order. China stepped forward by taking “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”, establishing Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and creating alternative forums to engage various regions by assuming a global role. Chinese World Order here is not aimed at referring to the world dominated by China but Chinese sphere of influence with its greater role. Pakistan’s profile has improved with success against terrorism, Chinese investment and interest by other countries to invest under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC is a flagship project of BRI which enables Pakistan’s growth and extend it economic integration with China. Pakistan’s close partnership with China enables it to play a greater political role in South Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, the Islamic world and the world at large.

Though the 21st century was considered hallmark economic globalization and trade partnership but recent developments of Brexit and President Trumps protective and anti-multilateral trading have challenged the established liberal consensus on economic globalization. This paper would argue that on the contrary the case of CPEC is the recent initiative from China and Pakistan which is giving boost to the new wave of economic Globalization as the economic corridor China projected the Belt and Road as a road to prosperity whereas isolation brings backwardness, will be more true with regard to CPEC. For Pakistan it is a gamechanger as it is a framework of regional connectivity. CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asian Republic, and the region. The enhancement of geographical linkages will further the economic globalization as against the anti-globalization moves.

Prior literature reports that macro-economic factors of a country affect stock exchange performance and thus firm performance. Recent strands of literature and the fluctuations in currency have a substantive effect on countries' economies. These fluctuations are also a cause of price fluctuations of imports and exports. One such factor which directly affects firm performance is the oil price fluctuations. Thus, this thesis empirically investigates the effect of oil price fluctuations on firm risk for the firms listed on PSX for the period 2012-2017. Secondary data is taken from SBP, Balance Sheet Analysis Database, Pakistan Stock Exchange and the company's website in some cases. Using Panel data, results show that oil prices increase firm risk (beta), which indicates that market participants react to change in oil prices and thus increases risks. The study indicates that policymakers need to control oil prices to keep firm risk in control and thus manage the market towards a better investment environment.

Economic growth process is explained by many scientists in order to materialize a cherished objective of economic growth across the globe. In the current study, convergence among developed, developing and emerging countries has been estimated. Convergence process was estimated by employing sigma, beta and omega techniques. Analysis was done for three time periods i.e. from 1980 to 2018, from 1980 to 2000 and from 2001 to 2018. Sigma and beta analysis for the period from 1980 to 2000 showed divergence among countries however there are difference among developed, developing and economies Omega analysis showed divergence of developed countries and convergence among developing and emerging countries. Last analysis from 2001 to 2018 showed convergence among countries. The results are consistent with the adoption of information technology. Therefore, fast spillover effects of information technology help the countries in convergence process and make this world a global village.

Globalization is the instrument of disintegration and weakening of nations through a vast network of transnational companies and their monopoly on global markets that destabilize a nations economy by enhancing the interdependence of the countries and weakening the nation-states grip over its geographical borders. Rahman in his novel In the Light of What We Know (2014) shows Afghanistan as a victim of tripartite – economic, cultural, political – globalization. Using Spencer & Wollmans (2002), Appadurais (2005) and Giddens (1990) critique and analyses of globalization, this study explores how Afghanistan has been gripped by the forces of globalization. Raemdoncks (2013) conceptualization of three dimensional global games of chess – great game, little game, and domestic game – being played by America, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, ISI and NGOs in Afghanistan chalks out the American designs of getting access to the oil and gas reservoirs in Afghanistan and Central Asian states.

Kazakhstan has made considerable progress in shifting from command to a market economy. The transition process towards a “market economy was expected to enhance the economic performance” of the country which in turn was anticipated to uplift the life of a common man. This study, therefore, aims“ to examine the impact of economic freedom on economic growth” of Kazakhstan. The results indicate that though the reform process of Kazakhstan is in a transition phase, yet economic freedom has contributed positively“ towards the economic growth” of the country.“The results also indicate that in sub-indicators of economic freedom, monetary freedom” and protection of property right have contributed to the growth of Kazakhstans economy while an increase in government size impedes the economic growth of the country."

The study aims to see the effect of the socio-economic background of learners on their language skills of 9th class students in public sector schools in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Stratified simple random sampling technique was adopted following Krejcie and Morgan rule and 379 respondents were consulted for data collection. Two valid and reliable instruments were applied, first, the socioeconomic status scale and then test were conducted for finding ability in reading skills i.e. comprehension, fluency, identification of adverb, to skim and to scan the passages. Data was analyzed through mean; for checking the outcome of SE background on the reading skills, the mean of means was calculated. The students who have a supportive environment at home for English performed better in test scores of comprehension, fluency, adverb identification, skimming and scanning. The study recommends that students may be supported at home for polishing their reading skills.