Rapid urbanization in Pakistan is accelerating the conversion of fertile agricultural land into housing schemes and commercial developments, posing significant risks to food security and rural livelihoods. This policy brief draws on a household survey of 120 respondents from four peri-urban villages in Faisalabad District and an updated review of international evidence on agricultural land conversion. Findings reveal that most land sales were driven by financial distress rather than planned investment, with the majority of sellers later expressing regret over their decisions. Awareness of land-use regulations and the long-term implications of farmland conversion was found to be extremely limited. Respondents also reported declining food adequacy, dietary quality, and sustainability of local water and agricultural systems following land conversion. These findings reinforce growing concerns about the implications of unchecked urban expansion for food security. The brief recommends the introduction of a legally binding agricultural zoning framework, mandatory food-security impact assessments, and strengthened land governance measures to protect productive farmland and promote sustainable development.

Across rural and peri-urban Punjab, Pakistan, water scarcity and unsafe sanitation remain endemic, with national data showing that waterborne illness accounts for roughly 80 percent of disease burden and a third of all deaths nationwide. A cross-sectional survey of 156 residents across multiple districts examined community awareness, lived experience, and willingness to engage on water and sanitation issues. Respondents demonstrated strong awareness that contaminated water threatens health, yet expressed persistent uncertainty and skepticism toward government monitoring, NGO assistance, and visible improvement in services; willingness to participate in solutions was high but conditional on credible institutional follow-through. Although the study was not designed to measure nutrition or food security outcomes directly, its findings carry direct implications for these domains. Unsafe water and poor sanitation are established drivers of diarrheal disease and child stunting, women's unpaid water-collection labor, and reduced agricultural productivity, all core determinants of household food security, maternal wellbeing, and child development. This brief translates the study's evidence into actionable recommendations spanning government policy, agricultural water management, nutrition-sensitive programming, and community governance, arguing that closing Pakistan's water and sanitation trust deficit is inseparable from achieving food security, gender equity, and sustainable rural transformation.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to discuss how knowledge management (KM) practices can help in sustainable infrastructure growth in various regions with specific reference to energy consumption and economic development.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs the panel data of 65 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries across the period between 1981 and 2016 to analyze using the econometric modeling techniques. Energy consumption, financial development, utilization of renewable energy and technological advancement are key variables. A theoretical lens of KM is incorporated in comprehending the data-driven decision-making and knowledge-based policy implementation. To ensure robust results, advanced econometric techniques are applied, including cross-sectional dependence tests (LM Breusch-Pagan and CD test of Pesaran), unit root tests (ADF Fisher Chi-square and CIPS CADF) to capture long-run relationships.FindingsThe findings indicate that energy consumption and economic expansion have significant implications to the quality of the environment whereas use of renewable energy and economic development have positive environmental consequences within the chosen regions. The research reveals that the regional differences influence the manner in which the KM mediates the interrelation of development and sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThe research depends on secondary sources of KM inferences and is restricted to the chosen BRI countries.Practical implicationsThe study also gives policymakers, planners of infrastructure and development institutions recommendations of how to incorporate KM in infrastructure policy in line with the sustainability objectives.Social implicationsInternational organizations and development partners should fund capacity-building programs and knowledge-sharing platforms to enable BRI nations to execute sustainable development objectives.Originality/valueThe research examines how KM is linked to sustainable development in 65 BRI countries, taking into account differences among areas and difficulties in using cross-sectional information.

Food insecurity and oral health problems are critical yet often separately addressed determinants of nutritional status among university students in low- and middle-income settings. This study investigates their combined effects on dietary behavior, health outcomes, and academic performance among 237 students in Faisalabad using a cross-sectional mixed methods design with strong internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.823). The findings indicate moderate levels of food insecurity (M = 2.43) alongside a notable oral health impact on nutrition (M = 2.66), suggesting a dual constraint on both food access and food utilization. Statistical analysis reveals significant associations between nutritional status and residential status (χ² = 16.72, p < 0.05), fatigue (χ² = 26.85, p < 0.01), concentration difficulties (χ² = 15.91, p < 0.05), academic performance (χ² = 17.69, p < 0.05), and access to on-campus food (χ² = 28.91, p < 0.01), while household income shows no significant effect (χ² = 9.43, NS). These results highlight that structural and institutional factors may outweigh purely economic ones in shaping student nutrition. Importantly, oral health issues limit the consumption of nutrient-dense, fibrous foods, while food insecurity reduces overall dietary intake. Together, they form a synergistic “double burden” that compromises both physical health and academic outcomes. The study underscores the need for integrated university-level interventions, including subsidized meal programs, improved campus food environments, and accessible on-campus dental care services to address these intersecting challenges effectively.

South Asia is at a significant risk due to rapid climate change, which is defined as the climate patterns over a period of 30 years as a result of global warming. Irregular rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and the recurrence of extreme weather events are all important indicators that affect ecosystems, agricultural production, and human populations, making them more vulnerable to climate change. Assessing trends in climate variability is important for developing effective adaptation strategies. This study examines trends in key climate variables such as temperature, rainfall, and carbon dioxide levels. Annual data from 1990 to 2020 were gathered from the Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP) and the World Development Indicators (WDI). The Mann-Kendall (MK) test was used to detect trends in the time-series data, and Sen's slope estimator, a non-parametric approach, was used to quantify the amplitude of these trends. The results affirm that Pakistan and India experience higher temperatures, all three countries experience significant variations in rainfall, and CO? emissions are gradually increasing. Despite the advancements in technology, producers continue to encounter hazards as a result of inadequate resources. The study argues for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) that improves productivity, resilience, and environmental sustainability through drought-tolerant crops, water-saving practices, and conservation tillage. Urgent, region-specific CSA strategies are essential to ensure sustainable agriculture in South Asia.

Pedigree records of 2,881 buffaloes sired by 162 bulls from four Livestock Experiment Stations in Punjab, Pakistan were used. The objective of this study was to estimate the breeding values of animals for different traits to rank the sires and estimation of genetic trends. An Animal Model incorporating all known relationships was used for estimating variance components and breeding values. The estimation of (co)variances and breeding values were obtained using the Derivative Free Restricted Maximum Likelihood (DFREML) set of computer program. The JAA computer program was used for the estimation of reliability of breeding values. The mean estimated breeding value for 305-day milk yield (kg), was-23 +/- 287 kg, with an overall genetic trend of +3.5 kg ranged-3.4 to 10.2 kg among different herds. Sires were ranked based on their breeding values along with reliability. 305 days milk yield regression line showing negative genetic trend (Y =-58.084+3.870X). Genetic trend in the recent past decade was negative for the trait indicating that selection strategy especially for choosing young bulls in the artificial insemination program and progeny testing needs to be reevaluated.

This study examines gender-specific barriers that keep women from engaging in mixed agricultural systems in rural Pakistan, emphasizing sociocultural, physical, and financial obstacles. Data were gathered from 662 male and female participants in four districts: Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, and Toba Tek Singh. Using cross-tabulation and independent samples t-tests, the methodology investigates gender-based differences in perceptions of significant barriers, such as insufficient training, cultural limitations, time constraints, health concerns, and harassment. Cross-tabulation determines the frequency and variation of restrictions by gender, whereas t-tests evaluate the statistical significance of the differences in responses between men and women. This combination offers essential insights into how much women's participation in agriculture is restricted by structural injustices and deeply rooted gender norms. Research indicates that women are consistently subjected to more difficult circumstances than men, especially regarding decision-making authority, physical labour demands, and vulnerability to social threats. The statistical significance of several gender differences in reported limitations underscores the need for gender-responsive approaches in agriculture policy. The research uses empirical data to shed light on gendered dynamics, which makes it easier to create inclusive interventions that support global development goals like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for gender equality, decent employment, and rural development.

Recent days, feed biotechnology is creating land mark differences among traditional and sustainable poultry formulations. Biotechnology is now enables us to incorporate useful additives in broilers ration like enzymes, probiotics and more absorbable mineral sources. Individual effect of each additive had been explored extensively but combined effect of chelated minerals, enzymes and probiotics was studied in this research for sustainable broiler production. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Nutri biyo® (Nb) on different growth and physiological parameters in broilers. A total of 240 day-old chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments having 6 replicates each (10 birds per replicate). The treatments were T0 (basal diet), T1 (basal diet + 0.5 g Nb), T2 (basal diet + 1 g Nb) and T3 (basal diet + 1.5 g Nb). During starter, finisher and overall duration, growth performance was improved in group receiving the highest inclusion of Nb. Furthermore, total tract nutrient digestibility, immune organ index and meat quality (springiness, chewiness, adhesiveness, compression, shear force and hardness values, ) were observed significant (p < 0.05) in birds fed with 1.5 g of Nb as compared to control group on both 21st and 35th day. Antibody titers, carcass characteristics (carcass, thigh, heart, gizzard, back and proventriculus percentages), ileal digestibility (crude protein, dry matter, and ether extract) and bone measurements (tibia length, weight, wall thickness, and structural indicators) were improved (p < 0.05) by T3 group. Hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, packed cell volume, lymphocyte and red blood cell counts revealed significant increases in birds fed 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg. Other hematological parameters, crude fiber (ileal) digestibility, breast, liver, wings and pancreas weights remained unchanged. These findings suggest Nutri Biyo® at 1.5 g dose level as an effective feed additive for improving overall broiler performance.

The conversion of agricultural land for urban purposes is a critical global challenge that carries substantial economic, environmental, and social consequences. This study investigates the patterns and drivers of agricultural land conversion in Faisalabad, Pakistan, by analysing farmers’ perceptions, demographic influences and the role of urbanisation pressures. Research was conducted in the tehsil of Faisalabad (Sadar). The purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from respondents, with consultation with DDA, ADA, AO, and field assistant Faisalabad. Five villages were selected by using the snowball sampling technique. According to the lists obtained from AO Faisalabad (sadar) the population of these villages was 712. Sample size was calculated by using an online website (www.surveysystem.com). Keeping Confidence Level 95% and confidence interval 8, which was 124. A well-structured interview schedule was prepared for data collection. The interview schedule was pre-tested to check its validity and reliability. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used analyzing the data. Using a mixed-methods approach comprising structured interviews, focus group discussions and statistical analyses, the study highlights key agricultural issues leading to urbanization, impacts of housing societies on food supply and socio-economic dynamics shaping farmers' decisions. Findings reveal that limited access to resources, market volatility and youth disinterest in farming are major drivers of land conversion. The study integrates Change Theory and explores drivers of convergence affecting agricultural sustainability. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to balance urban growth with agricultural preservation, ensuring long-term food security and rural livelihoods.

The current study aims to assess the impact of different doses of feed supplementation of copper nanoparticles on broiler growth performance and carcass traits. The copper nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction, and X-ray diffraction was used to characterize them. Iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous starter and finisher basal diets were prepared and further supplemented with 0, 4, 8, and 12 mg/kg Cu nanoparticles for formulating T1, T2, T3 and T4 diets, respectively. A nearby hatchery provided 160-day-old broiler chicks, which were subsequently divided into 4 groups at random. There were 4 repetitions of each treatment, with 10 birds in each replication. Results revealed that average weight and FCR were improved in birds fed feed containing 12 mg nano Cu when compared to other groups. Feed intake, carcass characteristics, and dry matter and crude protein metabolizability were not influenced by different levels of Cu nanoparticles, while the metabolizability of crude fat was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T4 compared among all treatment groups. Catalase concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in T3 and T4 compared to other treatments, while the concentration of superoxide dismutase was high in T2 and T4. The water-holding capacity of meat was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T4. The findings of the present study concluded that dietary supplementation of Cu nanoparticles at 12 mg/kg feed can be practiced to get better broiler performance. According to the current study’s findings, broiler performance can be improved by supplementing the food with 12 mg/kg of Cu nanoparticles.

In this paper, we investigate the effect of global warming on agricultural production in Benin between 1990 and 2019. Our research that uses the ARDL bounds method suggests that carbon dioxide emissions positively affect agriculture and its subsectors in the short run. However, its impact is negative in the long-term except for fishery. In both runs, rainfall positively affects agriculture and crops but negatively affects livestock. It has no impact on fishery. Temperature has a detrimental impact on agriculture and crops in the short run but a positive effect on livestock. Its effect on livestock is non-significant.

The COVID-19 crisis has not only increased socio-economic inequalities globally but it also severely affected people's everyday lives. This study explores the impacts of COVID-19 on household income, food security, and food consumption patterns in the urban slums of Punjab, Pakistan. Using a multistage random sampling method, cross-sectional data was collected from 257 households through face-to-face interviews. Respondents were chosen randomly applying the random walk method. The data were analysed using Probit regression models. The household food security situation was estimated using the food insecurity experience scale (HFIES) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Results show that household income and food security situations during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly affected by education level, household size, daily-wage earnings, salaried employment, and household income slot-I. Household participation in social safety programs appears to help mitigate income shocks and decrease food insecurity. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, 73.92% and 54.86% of the surveyed households faced income shocks and worsened food security, respectively. The consumption of meat, poultry products, and seafood decreased by 21.01%, 17.50%, and 14.39%, respectively, during the pandemic, in comparison to the pre-pandemic period. The study recommends that authorities should consider continuously focusing on supporting existing national social safety programs and designing new ones by providing responsive packages during such adversities. Further, structuring robust financial institutions to aid business recovery and to ensure the availability of food to marginalised communities, particularly in urban slums, could sustain the masses.

Infrastructure projects create socioeconomic disturbance and negatively affect the living standards of local people. To probe the socio-economic impacts of big infrastructures, this article considers the construction of the Diamer Bhasha Dam project in Pakistan. This study mainly relied on primary sources of data and used the logit regression model to quantify the probability of impacts of selected factors on the living standards of the affected population. We found several socioeconomic factors and financial aspect significantly impacting the living standard of locals. Main factors include less compensation payment, delay in payment, lack of business investment skills and employment opportunities, withholding information from the local population, and corruption. The results reveal that the odds of poor living standards of the affected people are much higher – 14.4 times due to delay in compensation payment and 10 times more due to less compensation. Lack of business investment skills and the negative impact of the project on employment opportunities lower the living standard of local people 10 times and 6 times respectively. Further, withholding information from locals declines the living standard of local people 3 times, and corruption in project activities negatively affects the living standard 1 time. The study also provides policy measures and recommendations for improved living standards.

There is a direct link between global warming and hunger in emerging West African nations like Ivory Coast, where the population is overgrowing, and food insecurity is rising. This work aims to examine and explore climate change's effects on agriculture production in Ivory Coast from 1990 to 2019. Various stationarity tests, including the Phillips-Perron (PP) and the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), are applied to determine the variables' order of integration. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach is employed to model the long- and short-run relationships between temperature, rainfall, carbon dioxide emissions, domestic credit, gross capital formation, and agriculture sector and subsectors. The present study uses the Johansen cointegration test to verify the long-run cointegration of the ARDL estimation. The findings reveal that all the variables are integrated into order zero or one. Cointegration tests demonstrate a valid long-term association between the variables. Agriculture and related subsectors in Ivory Coast were found to benefit from increasing temperature over the long run, except for the fishery subsector, where the impact is negligible. In the short run, temperature’s effect is positive on aggregate agriculture, although it is not statistically significant. Its effect is beneficial to agriculture's subsectors, except for fishery production. In both runs, Ivory Coast’s aggregate agriculture sector and fishery subsector are negatively affected by rainfall. An insignificant favorable effect of rainfall is found on crop production in both runs. The estimated results indicated that the role of CO2 is positive on agriculture and crop production in both run estimations. However, CO2 does not impact livestock production. It has a long-term positive influence on fishery production but no effect in the short run. Domestic credit is found to have a beneficial influence on agriculture and its subsectors in both runs, except for crop and livestock production, where the effect is negative and insignificant in the short run. Gross capital formation negatively impacts agriculture and its subsectors in Ivory Coast, except crop production, where it only has an insignificant beneficial effect in the short run. The same is true for fishery production, which only had a significant favourable impact effect in the short run. For the government and policymakers, the findings guide the formulation of suitable policies to address global warming's effects on agriculture and guarantee sustainable food production for the increasing population.

Due to global and regional climatic dynamics for a couple of decades, agricultural productivity, rural livelihood, and food security have been badly affected in Pakistan. This study was conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, to explore the farmers' understanding of the impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies, determinants, and benefits on agriculture using data from 1080 respondents. Perceived risks by the farmers in the rice-wheat cropping system and the cotton-wheat cropping system were weed infestation, seed rate augmented, low-quality seeds, infestation of crop diseases and pests, change of cropping pattern, increase of input use, decrease of cropping intensity and productivity, decreasing soil fertility, increasing irrigation frequency, and increase of harvesting time. To alleviate the adverse influences of climate change, the adaptation strategies used by farmers were management of crop and variety, soil and irrigation water, diversification of agriculture production systems and livelihood sources, management of fertilizer and farm operations time, spatial adaptation, access to risk reduction measures and financial assets, adoption of new technologies, institutional support, and indigenous knowledge. Moreover, the results of Binary Logistic Regression indicate that adaptation strategies are affected by different factors like age, education, household family size, off-farm income, remittances, credit access, information on climatic and natural hazards, information on weather forecasting, land acreage, the experience of growing crops and rearing of livestock, tenancy status, tube well ownership, livestock inventory, access to market information, agricultural extension services, and distance from agricultural input/output market. There is a significant difference between adapters and nonadapters. The risk management system may be created to protect crops against failures caused by extreme weather events. There is a need to develop crop varieties that are both high yielding and resistant to climate change. Moreover, cropping patterns should be revised to combat the effects of climate change. To enhance farmers' standard of living, it is necessary to provide adequate extension services and a more significant number of investment facilities. These measures will assist farmers in maintaining their standard of living and food security over the long term to adapt to the effects of climate change based on various cropping zones.

Increasing population and augmented demand for food have put burden on water resources, crops, and livestock for future sustainability. Pakistan is facing difficulties of water shortage, low crops and livestock productivity, meagre livelihood, and intensive food insecurity. Hence, this study was conducted in Pakistan to explore the nexus of climate change, irrigation water, agriculture, rural livelihoods, and food security. The study is based on primary data of 1080 farmers gathered from 12 districts of the rice–wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems. A partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to compute the nexus. Findings of path analysis indicated that climate change had a significant negative impact on irrigation water, crops, livestock, rural livelihood, and food security in both cropping systems. There was positive relationship between surface water and crops. In addition, groundwater and crops were also positively and significantly correlated. The impact of crop was positive and significant on rural livelihood and food security. Furthermore, rural livelihood and food security were positively and significantly influenced by livestock. Moreover, there was positive relationship between rural livelihood and food security. The cotton-wheat cropping system was more affected by climatic and natural hazards than rice–wheat cropping system. Interconnectivity among nexus components and their contribution to rural livelihood and food security indicate that government, policymakers, and other concerned stakeholders should effectively improve food security policies under climatic and natural hazards. Moreover, it helps in examining adverse impacts of hazards induced by climate change on nexus components, leading to the designing and adoption of sustainable climate change policies. The study’s originality lies in its ability to provide a inclusive and integrated pathway of the interconnections and interdependencies among these variables, identifying key drivers of food insecurity in Pakistan. Moreover, outcome of the study has policy implications for developing sustainable policies and strategies to improve sustainable food security in the country.

Environment and economic growth have been interlinked with each other since the beginning of mankind. The institutions (formal and informal) play an important role in the determination of the relationship between income and the environment. Many indicators measure the environment, i.e., air, land, water, and emissions. There is a need to develop a comprehensive measure of environmental quality, measuring all dimensions. The study aimed to develop a multidimensional and comprehensive measure of environmental quality and to analyze the role of formal and informal institutions on the environment and economic growth. Furthermore, the policy measures are suggested based on the results of the study. The environmental policies are better reinforced through good governance and improved institutional quality. To achieve these objectives, secondary data has been used from different international agencies of developed and developing countries with a special focus on Pakistan. The long-run and short-run relationships have been identified by using co-integration analysis and causality analysis. The results of the empirical analysis show that Institutional quality exerts a positive impact on economic growth. Further, Economic growth follows a decreasing trend in CO2 emissions, which validates the existence of EKC theory. The study also found that better institutions/policies cause higher income and improved environment in the long run, although it hampers growth in the short run. The study considers the vital roles of economic growth, institutional quality, and public awareness for a sustainable environment. To facilitate sustainable development in Pakistan, policymakers should be encouraged to prioritize policy design and implementation.

This study aimed to determine the farmers’ perceived impact of climate change on irrigation water and the adaptation measure adopted to mitigate its adverse effects. A binary logistic regression model was used to identified factors affecting the selection of adaptation measures. Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to compute the benefits of adaptation strategies. The study was conducted in two major cropping systems, i.e., the Cotton Wheat Cropping System (CWCS) and Rice Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) of Punjab, Pakistan, using primary data of 1080 farmers collected through a multistage sampling technique. Due to climate change there was deterioration in surface water and groundwater quality in CWCS than in RWCS. The farmer uses different adaptation strategies like water harvesting, crop diversification, increasing use of irrigation, laser land leveling to save water, making ridges, building a water harvesting scheme, changing irrigation time, high-efficiency irrigation system and water-saving technologies. Adaptation strategies used by farmer were affected by different socioeconomic, demographic and agronomic factors. Results of the binary logistic regression showed that age, farming experience, education, household size, farm size, tenancy status of owner, access to farm credit, information on weather forecasting, soil quality, tube well ownership, remittances, off-farm income, agricultural extension services provided for irrigation water, and information on climatic and natural hazards played a significant role in the selection of adaptation strategies for irrigation water. Results of PLS-SEM showed that adaptation strategies mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on irrigation water. Farmers’ awareness regarding the impact of climatic variability on irrigation water should be enhanced. Availability of credit to farmers should be improved on easy terms to facilitate the adoption of interventions for better irrigation water management. It is high time for policymakers to design effective, affordable, and workable policies to mitigate climate change vulnerabilities against irrigation water to improve the wellbeing of the farmers.

Potato is amongst most important vegetables being used in kitchens of ordinary and common men. The income elasticity of demand of potato is relatively high as compared with other vegetables. In Pakistan, the traditional fruit and vegetable markets and considered to be the places of pure competition and farmers are linked to these markets via different marketing channels. This study delves into the analysis of optimal marketing channels within the vegetable supply chain, with a focus on understanding the factors that influence the selection of these channels. The study used cross-sectional primary data gathered from different supply chain actors, including 120 potato growers, 20 retailers, 20 consumers, 16 commission agents, and 16 wholesalers from two districts of Punjab, namely Okara and Chinote. This research employs a two-fold methodology. First, it involves the identification of the optimal marketing channel among five alternatives using a unique ranking technique methodology. Second, it employs regression analysis with binary endogenous treatment to discern the factors affecting the choice of marketing channels. The study sheds light on the intricacies of marketing channel decisions in the vegetable supply chain, offering insights into the preferences and considerations of stakeholders in the Okara and Chinote districts of Punjab, Pakistan. The findings of the study contribute not only to the understanding of optimal channel selection but also to the broader knowledge of the factors that influence these decisions. These insights are valuable for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing strategies within the agricultural sector, benefiting farming communities and the country as a whole.