Institute of Business Administration Karachi

As our dependence on the internet and digital platforms grows, the risk of cyber threats rises, making it essential to implement effective measures to safeguard sensitive information through cybersecurity, ensure system integrity, and prevent unauthorized data access. Fuzz testing, commonly known as fuzzing, is a valuable technique for software testing as it uncovers vulnerabilities and defects in systems by introducing random data inputs, often leading to system crashes. In the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, fuzzing is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities in networks, devices, and applications through automated tools that systematically inject malformed inputs into IoT systems. However, despite its importance, existing research on fuzzing techniques in IoT contexts remains limited by the absence of standardized benchmarks, inefficiencies in re-hosting strategies, and difficulties in detecting complex, condition-dependent vulnerabilities. The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively evaluate current fuzzing practices, emphasizing adaptive techniques designed for IoT systems. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) model, a systematic literature review was conducted across 32 academic articles published between 2020 and 2024. The analysis revealed that although fuzzing enhances IoT security, its effectiveness is hindered by device heterogeneity, limited system resources, and evolving cyber threat landscapes. The findings suggest that to overcome these limitations, future research should focus on AI-driven fuzzing methods, robust multi-architecture support, and the development of standardized evaluation frameworks to strengthen IoT cybersecurity.

A bstract Based on (1 . 0087 ± 0 . 0044) × 10 ¹⁰ J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII e ⁺ e − storage ring, we search for ${K}_S^0$ K S 0 invisible decays via the J/ψ → $\phi {K}_S^0{K}_S^0$ ϕ K S 0 K S 0 process. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limit of the branching fraction of these invisible decays is set at 8.4 × 10 − 4 at the 90% confidence level. This is the first experimental search for ${K}_S^0$ K S 0 invisible decays.

A bstract An amplitude analysis of the Cabibbo-favored decay D ⁺ → K − π ⁺ π ⁺ π ⁰ is performed, using 7.93 fb − 1 of e ⁺ e − collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV. The branching fractions of the intermediate processes are measured, with the dominant contribution ${D}^{+}\to {\overline{K}}^{\ast }{(892)}^0\rho {(770)}^{+}$ D + → K ¯ ∗ 892 0 ρ 770 + observed to have a branching fraction of (4.35 ± 0.07 stat . ± 0.17 syst . )%. With the detection efficiency derived from the amplitude analysis, the absolute branching fraction of D ⁺ → K − π ⁺ π ⁺ π ⁰ is measured to be (6.35 ± 0.04 stat . ± 0.07 syst . )%.

A bstract Based on a data sample of (10087 ± 44) × 10 ⁶ J / ψ events taken with the BESIII detector, we search for the flavor-changing neutral current charmonium decay J / ψ → D ⁰ μ ⁺ μ − + c.c. . No significant signal above the background is observed, and the upper limit on its branching fraction is set to be ℬ( J / ψ → D ⁰ μ ⁺ μ − + c.c.) < 1.1 × 10 − 7 at the 90% confidence level. This marks the first search for a flavor-changing neutral current charmonium decay involving muons in the final state.

In late 2016, Umair Mohsin, marketing director at Telenor Pakistan, a major telecommunication company, had to decide on the brand architecture system. Telenor launched as a rural brand in the competitive telecommunication sector in Pakistan and had reached the second-largest market share. It offered brands targeted towards different segments: a voice-based, mass brand called Telenor Talkshawk, an SMS-based youth brand called Djuice and a post-paid brand called Telenor Persona. Telenor Persona was later changed to Telenor post-paid. Although these Telenor brands were differentiated in their target groups, brand personality and tone of voice, the financial concerns of the heads in Oslo, Norway, forced Umair to think and decide about the present nomenclature. Should he continue with both brands? Should he discontinue Talkshawk as the shareholders suggested? Should he only focus on the mother brand, Telenor? To make this decision, he had to keep the recent award of the 4G spectrum in mind. The 4G spectrum ensured the company could improve customer experience, expand services and serve the unserved market. Umair had to decide whether the 4G launch had to be communicated using the Talkshawk brand, which had a less tech-savvy audience, the Djuice brand, which had a tech-savvy audience, or the mother brand, Telenor. He had to decide in a short time frame of two days. He could listen to the shareholders’ concerns regarding cost reduction and accept their proposal or convince them of a better top line by satisfying the existing customer base.

In Pakistan, an alarming 18% of girls are married before reaching the age of 18, with the adverse effects being more pronounced in rural areas, households with lower incomes, and those with limited educational opportunities. This detrimental practice is deeply rooted in cultural factors that perpetuate the tradition. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the province where the prevalence of females married before the age of 18 is the highest, exceeding 18%, followed by Sindh, where the rate surpasses 14%. This report provides evidence-based analysis of how marrying at a young age affects the health and wellbeing of women and children in Pakistan, it uses statistical examination of data from the Demographic and Health Surveys and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to show the relation between early marriages and poor health and development outcomes. The investigation extends its scope across various dimensions, including regional disparities, wealth deciles, and gender dynamics. Findings validate that child marriages negatively affect life satisfaction in women, and almost 90% of girls who marry before the age of 18 become mothers while still in their adolescence, being neither physically nor emotionally ready for the demands of motherhood, these young girls face a higher risk of adverse health consequences for themselves and their children, in Punjab, approximately 25% of child brides have experienced the death of a child, other provinces are also not immune to this grim reality. Furthermore, the PDHS 2017–2018 data shows that children of mothers who are married before 18 are more likely to have low birth weight, stunted growth, and experience wasting. The report also points to the link between early childhood development indicators and the incidence of early marriages. In Baluchistan 78% of the children (under five) were found to lagging behind in more than one dimension of development indicators while in KPK the number stands at 64%. There is a notable association between these developmental challenges and the higher incidence of early marriages in these provinces. In light of the findings, the report offers operational recommendations for policymakers to address and mitigate the negative consequences of early marriages, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs.

Non‐tariff measures (NTMs) may lead to a higher regulatory burden on firms that are required to comply with them. The increase in similarity of NTMs applied on their respective imports by the trading partners may reduce this burden as exporting firms are required to comply with them regardless of whether they sell in the domestic market or export to markets applying similar NTMs. I determine the influence of increasing similarity of NTMs applied by the United States and its trading partners on the unit value of imports. I split the sample of source countries based on their income level and find that the influence on unit value is different within the richer and the poorer countries. The robustness checks reinforce the findings that the increasing similarity of NTMs applied by the trading partners does influence the unit value of imports but does so differently based on the income level of source countries.

A bstract We report an improved study of the semileptonic decay ${D}^0\to {\overline{K}}^0{\pi}^{-}{e}^{+}{\nu}_e$ D 0 → K ¯ 0 π − e + ν e based on a sample of 7.9 fb − 1 of e ⁺ e − annihilation data collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The branching fraction of this decay is measured to be $\mathcal{B}\left({D}^0\to {\overline{K}}^0{\pi}^{-}{e}^{+}{\nu}_e\right)$ B D 0 → K ¯ 0 π − e + ν e = (1.444 ± 0.022 stat ± 0.024 syst )%, which is the most precise to date, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Based on investigation of the decay dynamics, we find that the decay is dominated by the K * (892) − component and present an improved measurement of its branching fraction to be $\mathcal{B}\left({D}^0\to {K}^{\ast }{(892)}^{-}{e}^{+}{\nu}_e\right)$ B D 0 → K ∗ 892 − e + ν e = (2.039 ± 0.032 stat ± 0.034 syst )%. We also determine the ratios of the hadronic form factors for the K * (892) − e ⁺ ν e decay to be r V = V (0)/ A 1 (0) = 1.48 ± 0.05 stat ± 0.02 syst and r 2 = A 2 (0)/ A 1 (0) = 0.70 ± 0.04 stat ± 0.02 syst , where V (0) is the vector form factor and A 1 , 2 (0) are the axial form factors. In addition, the ${\overline{K}}^0{\pi}^{-}$ K ¯ 0 π − $\mathcal{S}$ S -wave component is found to account for (5.87 ± 0.32 stat ± 0.16 syst )% of the total decay rate, corresponding to a branching fraction of $B\left[{D}^0\to {\left({\overline{K}}^0{\pi}^{-}\right)}_{S-\textrm{wave}}{e}^{+}{\nu}_e\right]$ B D 0 → K ¯ 0 π − S − wave e + ν e = (0.085 ± 0.005 stat ± 0.003 syst )%.

Pakistan has recently launched the "Decade of Dam" initiative, aiming to accomplish 10 dam projects by 2030 to meet the pressing food security and energy needs. Among these projects is the multipurpose "Diamer-Bhasha" dam (D-B), strategically located on the border of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, with a reservoir surface area of 200 km 2 and a water storage capacity of 6.4 million-acre-feet. The study aims to assess the socioeconomic and ecological impacts of the D-B Dam and to propose strategies for mitigating associated risks. To achieve the research objective, the study employs a storyline approach. The results demonstrate that the area of very high risk (VHR) grew by 24% between 2000 and 2020. The zones categorized as moderate risk (MR) exhibited a reduction of 10% within the same period, implying improvement in disaster risk management to alleviate the susceptibility. Conversely, the zones categorized as low risk (LR) experienced a 13% increase. Zones classified as VHR are mostly clustered in the Diamer region. The D-B Dam has deepened the exposure of the population of the area to socioeconomic and ecological risks, including the carbon footprint associated with the hydropower plant, the loss of ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods, and forced migration. The findings suggest integrated approaches for assessing the climate risk landscape in areas undergoing developmental projects, helping to guide disaster risk management policies more effectively.

A bstract Based on (2712 . 4 ± 14 . 3) × 10 ⁶ ψ (3686) events collected at the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, we present the first observation of the decay $\psi (3686)\to {K}^{-}\Lambda (1520){\overline{\Xi}}^{+}$ ψ 3686 → K − Λ 1520 Ξ ¯ + + c.c.. The product branching fraction $\mathcal{B}\left[\psi (3686)\to {K}^{-}\Lambda (1520){\overline{\Xi}}^{+}+\textrm{c}.\textrm{c}.\right]\times \mathcal{B}\left[\Lambda (1520)\to p{K}^{-}\right]$ B ψ 3686 → K − Λ 1520 Ξ ¯ + + c . c . × B Λ 1520 → p K − is measured to be (9 . 47 ± 0 . 75 ± 0 . 97) × 10 − 7 , where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

This study aims to examine the antecedents and consequences of brand hate in shopping malls, using a tripartite model of hate within the Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral (CAB) framework. A mall intercept survey was used to collect responses from Pakistan shoppers. Based on 461 valid responses, the proposed relationship between antecedents and outcomes of brand hate for shopping malls was assessed using PLS-SEM. The findings of this study indicate that four key antecedents- ideological incompatibility, symbolic incongruity, negative past experiences, and advertising incompatibility - significantly influence the tripartite model of brand hate (anger, fear, sadness) among shoppers in the context of malls. Moreover, this mall hate significantly impacts a range of six consequents, including mall avoidance, patronage reduction, negative word-of-mouth, third-party complaining, brand retaliation, and brand revenge. This study provides new insights into how mall managers can mitigate the effects of brand hate and improve the overall shopping experience.

A bstract Based on a sample of (2712 . 4 ± 14 . 3) × 10 ⁶ ψ (3686) events collected with the BESIII detector, a partial wave analysis of the decay $\psi (3686)\to \Lambda {\overline{\Sigma}}^0{\pi}^0$ ψ 3686 → Λ Σ ¯ 0 π 0 + c . c . is performed to investigate Λ * and Σ * resonances in the ${\pi}^0{\overline{\Sigma}}^0$ π 0 Σ ¯ 0 and π ⁰ Λ invariant mass distributions. Significant contributions are found from the Λ(1405), Λ(1520), Λ(1600), Λ(1670), Λ(1690), Λ(1800), Λ(1890), Λ(2325), Σ(1385), Σ(1660), Σ(1670), Σ(1750), and Σ(1910). The masses, widths, and production branching fractions for each component are determined. In addition, the branching fraction of $\psi (3686)\to \Lambda {\overline{\Sigma}}^0{\pi}^0$ ψ 3686 → Λ Σ ¯ 0 π 0 + c . c . is measured to be (1 . 544 ± 0 . 013 ± 0 . 071) × 10 − 4 for the first time, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.

Introduction Malnutrition among children is one of the major health challenges in Pakistan. The National Nutritional Survey 2018 revealed that 44% of children are stunted. Different circumstances surrounding a child’s birth can lead to inequality of opportunity in early childhood, with significant nutritional inequalities between rural and urban areas. This study aims to identify the drivers of inequality of opportunity in stunting among children under-five years of age in Pakistan. Methods This study used Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–18 to identify the factors contributing to inequality of opportunity in child’s stunting. The Dissimilarity index (D-index), along with Oaxaca decomposition, and Shapely decomposition were employed to measure and decompose inequality in opportunity in stunting. Regional variations in stunting among children under various circumstances were analyzed using Geographic Information System or GIS. Results The burden of stunting is exceptionally high in Pakistan, with the prevalence in rural areas significantly exceeding that in urban areas from 1990 to 2018. Shapley decomposition of the contributors to inequality in opportunity indicates that maternal education accounted for 24% of total inequality among rural children and 44% among urban children. Water and sanitation contributed 22% to overall inequality in rural areas but only 2% in urban areas, highlighting the critical role of inadequate water and sanitation in rural settings. The wealth index was a predominant contributor to inequality both nationally and in urban areas. Southern regions exhibit a higher prevalence of stunting and a greater proportion of households lacking adequate water and sanitation. Additionally, the concentration of uneducated mothers and stunted children is notably high in Balochistan and Sindh. Conclusions The lack of maternal education, inadequate access to water and sanitation services, and lower socio-economic status are key factors contributing to inequality of opportunity in stunting among children under five in Pakistan. Understanding the critical role of these circumstances can help policymakers address the situation and implement concrete steps to enhance equal opportunities for child health.

A bstract The process ${e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}_S^0{K}_S^0\psi (3686)$ e + e − → K S 0 K S 0 ψ 3686 is studied by analyzing e ⁺ e − collision data samples collected at eight center-of-mass energies ranging from 4.682 to 4.951 GeV with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4 . 1 fb − 1 . Observation of the ${e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}_S^0{K}_S^0\psi (3686)$ e + e − → K S 0 K S 0 ψ 3686 process is found for the first time with a statistical significance of 6 . 3 σ , and the cross sections at each center-of-mass energy are measured. The ratio of cross sections of ${e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}_S^0{K}_S^0\psi (3686)$ e + e − → K S 0 K S 0 ψ 3686 relative to e ⁺ e − → K ⁺ K − ψ (3686) is determined to be $\frac{\sigma \left({e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}_S^0{K}_S^0\psi (3686)\right)}{\sigma \left({e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}^{+}{K}^{-}\psi (3686)\right)}=0.45\pm 0.25$ σ e + e − → K S 0 K S 0 ψ 3686 σ e + e − → K + K − ψ 3686 = 0.45 ± 0.25 , which is consistent with the prediction based on isospin symmetry. The uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic contributions. Additionally, the ${K}_S^0\psi (3686)$ K S 0 ψ 3686 invariant mass distribution is found to be consistent with three-body phase space. The significance of a contribution beyond three-body phase space is only 0 . 8 σ .

This study aims to know the impact of earnings management (accrual, real and total) and corporate governance mechanisms on the readability of annual reports. Additionally, the study also seeks to know the moderating impact of corporate governance mechanisms between earnings management (accruals, real and total) and readability of annual reports. The sample of the study consists 250 listed firms of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period of 2014–2022. The hypotheses are tested using System GMM technique. The results of the study suggest that earnings management (accruals, real and total) has negative and significant impact on readability of annual reports. However, all four corporate governance mechanics have a significantly positive impact on readability of annual reports. Additionally, corporate governance mechanics significantly moderates the relationship between earnings management (accruals, real and total) and the readability of annual reports. This study has practical implications for regulators, investors, and firms. The findings of the study may suggest to the Security Exchange Commission Pakistan that authorities improve readability by requiring companies to use clear, understandable language and include appropriate information in annual reports. Firms listed on PSX need to produce more readable annual reports to make information more concise and clear, using simple and short sentences, and familiar words.

This study aimed to achieve two primary goals. First, we identify the best competing models that predict consumers’ intention to use non-plastic reusable shopping bags from six available alternative models based on five theories: the theory of planned behavior, theory of consumption value, religiosity theory, ethics theory, and deterrence theory. Second, the study aimed to identify factors affecting users’ non-plastic reusable bag usage intention in Pakistan. The study used a survey method to collect data. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. PLS model selection criteria were used to identify the best competing models. Partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to identify the different factors affecting users’ intention to use non-plastic reusable shopping bags in Pakistan. This study found that the integrated model (based on five theories) better explains consumers’ intentions and has more predictive power than other theoretical models. Moreover, the empirical findings suggest that 12 out of the 14 variables influence consumers’ intentions. The results of this study can serve as a foundation for policy makers to deal with plastic problems by adopting non-plastic reusable shopping bags.

Development is not a set of performative actions. Rather, it is produced and reproduced over the years as a discourse (in the Foucauldian sense) that operates through a variety of categories of knowledge. In this way, development is a set of socio‐political and economic beliefs—an undeniable truth—that is exported to Pakistan through international institutions and technocrats. This paper attempts to understand the dissemination of development in Pakistan by focusing on the constructivist tendencies of development that employ various discursive strategies and language techniques to naturalize the socio‐economic and political hierarchies both socially and spatially. Taking the planning and development of Islamabad—a model urban settlement and a crown jewel of development in the country's history—as the case study, this research finds that various labels, linguistics contrasts, othering, and socio‐economic hierarchies were constructed and employed to construct the socio‐materiality of development as a natural order of things. This developmentality (drawing on Foucault's governmentality) is found in more than 150 planning and policy‐related documents from 1957 to 2018, showing the patronization and reproduction of power hierarchies, inequalities, exclusion, discrimination, and control .

A bstract Based on 7.33 fb − 1 of e ⁺ e − collision data collected by the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII collider at center-of-mass energies from 4.128 to 4.226 GeV, a search for the Majorana neutrino ν m is conducted in the lepton-number-violating decays of ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → h − h ⁰ e ⁺ e ⁺ . Here, h − represents a K − or π − , and h ⁰ represents a π ⁰ , ${K}_S^0$ K S 0 or ϕ . No significant signal is observed, and the upper limits of their branching fractions at the 90% confidence level are determined to be $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → ϕπ − e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 6 . 9 × 10 − 5 , $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → ϕK − e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 9 . 9 × 10 − 5 , $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → ${K}_S^0$ K S 0 π − e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 1 . 3 × 10 − 5 , $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → ${K}_S^0$ K S 0 K − e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 2 . 9 × 10 − 5 , $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → π − π ⁰ e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 2 . 9 × 10 − 5 and $\mathcal{B}$ B ( ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → K − π ⁰ e ⁺ e ⁺ ) < 3 . 4 × 10 − 5 . The Majorana neutrino is searched for with different mass assumptions within the range [0 . 20 , 0 . 80] GeV /c ² in the decay of ${D}_{\textrm{s}}^{+}$ D s + → ϕe ⁺ ν m with ν m → π − e ⁺ , and the upper limits of the branching fractions at the 90% confidence level are at the level of 10 − 5 –10 − 2 , depending on the mass of the Majorana neutrino.