Belt and road initiative as a catalyst of infrastructure development: Assessment of resident's perception and attitude towards China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The Chinese Government commenced the One Belt One Road (OBOR) project in 2013 for the multidimensional development to restore the historical Silk Road paradigms. The Economic Corridor provides networks and connections based on two geographical territories. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of them, a chunk of the Silk Road Economic Belt's economic corridors. CPEC would be an economic game-changer for Pakistan. It will generate businesses, minimize poverty, generate employment opportunities, and improve local communities' health and education. However, it is more lucrative for the Chinese economy because CPEC is a safe, cheapest, and shortest route for importing energy rather than other routes. The present study investigates the social, infrastructural, and tourism effects of CPEC through the mediation role of rural development and knowledge sharing, including income, employment, business, land-use change variables, and CPEC adoptability for a local community in Pakistan. This study is based on four different regions of Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh in Pakistan. The study incorporates the collected data from the respondents living on the CPEC routes via face-to-face interviews from citizens (cities, villages, and towns). Besides, the study applied univariate and Structural Equation Model techniques to draw the results. The study results reveal that CPEC plays a significant role in Pakistan's socio-economic and rural development. This mega project's expectations might bring positive changes in infrastructure development, energy sector, and social development projects in Pakistan. The Results also indicated that CPEC would link rural areas to urban areas, which would offer development opportunities for rural regions to achieve sustainable development.

Drinking-water efficiency, cost of illness, and peri-urban society: An economic household analysis.

This study aims to measure the efficacy of drinking water in terms of the economic impacts and risk of illness involved in using perilous water sources. Socio-economic factors were also considered. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to analyze the data, including the cost of illness (COI), regression technique, and irrigation water efficiency methods. The primary data set consisted of 210 peri-urban and urban households. It was found that the average cost of illness was higher in peri-urban ($10.79 USD) areas, while willingness to pay for quality water was higher in urban residents. Social status, income, and family size was positively associated with the cost of illness, while education, the source of drinking water (ground water and others), and awareness about safe drinking were negatively associated with the cost of illness. Furthermore, urban residents were more efficient in terms of conveyance and water use. This is one of the first studies to apply irrigation water efficiency methods to measure drinking water efficiency. The results are timely and important with both practical and social implications, including guiding policy framework. It is suggested that family planning programs be made more effective to control family size. The filtration plants to enhance drinking water quality be installed in the central places of each town/division/union council. A public-private partnership could work to provide affordable quality drinking water.

Infrastructure projects and sustainable development: Discovering the stakeholders' perception in the case of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been an economic game changer for both China and Pakistan. We investigate stakeholder satisfaction with CPEC projects in Pakistan, particularly with respect to the affected local communities. Given the project application and adaptability, two provinces-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab-and eight districts were selected randomly. Primary data from approximately 250 respondents as well as secondary data were collected. Among other models, a logit model was adopted to determine the role of certain factors in the perceived level of satisfaction. Results reveal that with respect to the relationship between land acquisition and dissatisfaction with a CPEC project, the level of dissatisfaction is 2.45 times higher when land is acquired by force or when compensation for the land is perceived to be inadequate by the local people. Individuals favor economic zones and development projects over road projects; the likelihood of being dissatisfied is approximately nine times greater in regions without economic zones than that in regions with such zones. Similarly, when no development project is allocated to a community, the probability of dissatisfaction of the local people is about 7.6 times greater. In addition, expectations of poor financial outcomes for CPEC projects cause significant dissatisfaction and are a source of tension among the local people. To reduce dissatisfaction, organizations and business communities must actively support the success of CPEC projects. A more equitable allocation of economic zones and development projects may help ease tensions and increase satisfaction among the local people.

Pricing behavior of monopoly market with the implementation of green technology decision under emission reduction subsidy policy.

Carbon emissions are one of the major constraints considered under a Cap-and-Trade (C-and-T) system, regarding the implementation of green technologies in the operations of emissions-generating companies. Green technology implementation, based on optimal pricing decisions, has become an inevitability due to rising carbon emissions. We studied the profit-maximizing behavior of a firm considering whether to implement of green technology due to subsidies offered on emission-reduction rates. In order to achieve the desired results, we used a simulation-based model and developed a conceptual model for the verification of functions. When the product price was high, the firm achieved a high profit, which was the main focus of the firm. The firm thus had sufficient resources to implement green technology. However, when the product price was low, the firm could achieve its goal of profit maximization, but did so without implementing green technology. To solve this problem, we studied government involvement in the market to incentivize emissions reduction and to benefit the firm. We decided to model emissions-reduction policy to encourage the implementation of green technology and support firm profits. We found that subsidies enabled a firm to maximize its profits while ensuring green technology implementation, while the firm would not have adopted green technology without subsidies or mandates. This study should help decision makers understand pricing strategies in the maximization of the profit. Additionally, this study helps demonstrate that the government plays an important role in monopolized markets by reducing negative externalities.

Climate mitigation, low-carbon society, and dynamism of educational institutes in a low-income country.

This paper aims to investigate carbon footprints of faculty members of University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) associated with income and education in pursuance of a low-carbon society. For the study, 140 UAF faculty members (professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and lecturers) were selected using stratified random sampling technique, and a representative questionnaire was used to record primary data. Moreover, the ordinary least square (OLS) method was used to explain the statistical relationship between income, education, and carbon footprints. It was found that carbon footprints of UAF faculty members were 10.06 metric tons (mt) per year per person on an average. Our results further indicated that carbon footprints of assistant professors, associate professors, and professors were 10.83, 11.95, and 10.96 mt per person per annum, respectively. OLS estimates showed that an increase in one Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) faculty member increases the carbon footprint by 1.15 mt per annum. Male faculty members emit more carbon footprints than females. Faculty members of Tenure Track System (TTS) had a higher income than those of Basic Pay Scale (BPS). Therefore, emissions of TTS faculty members were higher. Hence, in order to reduce carbon footprints and corroborate UAF campus environment-friendly, the attitude towards this aspect should be changed and awareness should be created. Furthermore, reduced car usage can be another bottom-up policy suggestion. As witnessed in green campuses of international universities, UAF should also be a motor-free campus (cycling and pedestrian only).