Working Capital Management (hereafter WCM) is the strategic tool that helps a company navigate through challenging economic growth, and influence its competitive performance. Thus, this study examines the impact of WCM on the competitiveness of firms operating in the non-financial sectors in Pakistan. We use the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) technique to ensure the robustness of our results. The study findings reveal that both a large net trade cycle and surplus working capital have a substantial negative impact on firms’ competitiveness within their respective industries. These results suggest that companies should streamline their investments in working capital accounts and concentrate more resources on long-term projects that maximize value to improve their competitiveness compared to other companies. Therefore, firms that are effectively managing their short-term financial affairs are experiencing much better performance in all aspects of firm performance. The research findings highlight the urgent need for governmental initiatives designed to improve WCM practices in these industries. It is imperative for the management of  companies with excess net working capital to maximize their working capital efficiency, aligning it with industry standards to enhance competitiveness. Moreover, policymakers should prioritize easing access to financial alternatives that allow enterprises to maintain an efficient working capital structure without relying on excessive measures. Furthermore, policymakers should be cautious when determining minimum cash balance requirements in a cash-strapped economy where external financing is relatively more expensive than in other regional economies.

Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs) have increasingly engaged in outward foreign direct investment in recent years, and particularly into the infrastructure sector of developing economies. This has been prompted by the infrastructure-led economic integration plan of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, such collaboration faces many challenges. Infrastructure projects are often undertaken in industries, countries, and regions posing particular and difficult challenges, and with divergent, often conflicting interests, with the ensuing conclusion that the MNE is simply exploiting the project and not delivering value to the host country. Overall, not only does the infrastructure project have to be well-functioning with expected returns (or savings) realized, but these projects face close scrutiny from local communities, labor, opposition parties, neighboring countries, and various international bodies and nonprofits, requiring delicate handling of the principals involved. The unfolding of these issues and their management by the multinational are examined through an in-depth longitudinal case study. The data are drawn from major participants and stakeholders around a leading Chinese MNE and the mega project of the construction of a major hydropower plant in Pakistan.

Purpose: This study investigates the mediating effect of Environmental Attachment (EA) among consumers in an emerging market, concentrating on the impact of two key factors: Green Environmental Awareness (GEA) and Sense of Responsibility (SOR) on Sustainable Product Consumption (SPC). Design/methodology/approach: A thorough online survey was carried out with Google Docs and distributed to 304 Pakistani consumers who now use or are considering purchasing sustainable or green products. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to rigorously test the suggested model utilizing a non-probability sampling technique, specifically the stratified purposive sampling approach. Findings: Green environmental awareness (GEA) and a sense of responsibility (SOR) have been shown to have a substantial impact on creating environmental attachment (EA) in both existing and potential customers of sustainable products. The findings of this study also revealed that environmental attachment (EA) plays an important role as a mediator in the links between green environmental awareness (GEA) and the consumption of sustainable goods (SPC), as well as between a sense of responsibility (SOR) and SPC. Despite this, it is crucial to note that the projected direct effect of GEA on SPC was shown to be statistically insignificant. This conclusion implies that additional factors outside the scope of this study may influence the relationship between GEA and SPC. Research limitations/implications: It is vital to highlight that the focus of this study is on an online sample of consumers near Punjab, Pakistan. Future studies should look at other parts of Pakistan to acquire a more complete picture of sustainable consumption trends. Furthermore, our findings suggest that characteristics impacting sustainable consumption, such as Green Environmental Awareness (GEA) and Sense of Responsibility (SOR), may differ among countries. As a result, performing a comparison analysis involving two or more countries could provide valuable insights into projecting sustainable product consumption among current and potential sustainable product customers. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by investigating the factors of sustainable consumption using the lens of the Norm Activation Model theory (NAM), notably Green Environmental Awareness (GEA) and Sense of Responsibility (SOR), to predict sustainable product consumption. The findings are important for promoting long-term goals in Pakistan and provide a framework that can be applied in other emerging markets.

This quantitative survey was non-experimental and had two goals. An evaluation of predictor variables of empowerment, motivation, teamwork, interpersonal skills, and training and development in project environments was one goal to help explain the industry’s high project failure rate. Second, this research tested Bandura’s social learning theory and tested the hypothesis that empowerment and motivation boost performance. Using a survey-based questionnaire, the data was collected from 212 employees working in different IT companies in Pakistan. The results revealed that empowerment, motivation, teamwork, and training and development have a significant impact on project performance. Using the results, this study proposes theoretical implications for the researchers and managerial implications for the organizations.

This multiple case study qualitative research examined the impact of adoption and diffusion of innovation on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) growth in the hostile business landscape of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This research is intended to investigate research data and consequent findings based on an interview protocol that was purposefully developed from extant literature, complemented by an initial pilot study of two pharmaceutical SMEs. The researcher conducted 20 interviews, guided by the semi-structured interview protocol offered to the respondents beforehand after sorting their informed consent. The 20 participants represented the different hierarchal levels of the 08 case study of pharmaceutical from the two industrial clusters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, located at the Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar, and the Rashkai Industrial Estate, Nowshera. The analysis of the data presented findings and corroborated the research propositions that those SMEs that are structurally entrepreneurial and adopt innovation amenably, are open to mobility and tourism, yield satisfactory results in terms of their growth as compared to those that are inertial and unentrepreneurial. Similarly, the results offer confirmation that the effectiveness of government agencies that are explicitly formed to address the problems of small businesses is insufficient. They rather create hindrances than assistance due to the excessive delays in approving innovative ideas and conceptions by these related organizations and ministries. Moreover, the proposed framework offers pragmatic recommendations to contextualize entrepreneurial culture and innovative structures in SMEs and their essential factors in critical environmental circumstances.

The economy of Pakistan has faced many challenges due to COVID-19, leading to numerous systemic failures and leaving it struggling to recover. This research aims to shed light on the specific challenges faced by Pakistani textile companies during the pandemic. Comprehensive data was collected from one hundred fifty-three textile managers in Pakistan. Upon examining the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, it has been found that the most pressing issues revolved around working capital and strategies for generating new sales. Interestingly, many of these businesses were well-prepared in the digital realm, readily embracing digital knowledge and seizing opportunities by pivoting to the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and N95 masks. This study aims to evaluate the early consequences of COVID-19 on Pakistan’s textile industry. Considering the scarcity of research on these challenges and opportunities, our work contributes to a better understanding of the hurdles the textile sector faces. Furthermore, it sets the groundwork for future research in this domain. It provides valuable insights for textile businesses, enabling them to align their strategies with the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape.