Women-Empowerment is one of the most crucial challenge in Pakistan. Pakistani women are con-tributing only 25-30% in nation’s economy which is quite low as compared with other developed as well as developing countries such as United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Ma-laysia, China, Indonesia and India. To address this problem, the primary objective of this study was to examine the role of microfinance institutions in women-empowerment. Moreover, moderating role of vulnerability was also examined. Quantitative research approach and cross-sectional research design were adopted. Data were collected from the female clients of microfinance institutes in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Survey was conducted to collect the data and questionnaires were dis-tributed by using area cluster sampling. SmartPLS (SEM) was used to analyze the data. It was found that non-financial services of microfinance institutes such as training/skill development pro-grams and social capital development had positive contributions towards women-empowerment. Moreover, vulnerability moderated the relationship between social capital and women empowerment. Thus, this study contributed in the body of literature by investigating vulnerability as moderating variable. Hence, this study is beneficial for microfinance institutes to enhance women-empowerment through training/skill development and social capital development.


This article has been retracted.

Supply chain performance has been a key element of competitive strategy to boost organizational productivity and profitability. In the United Kingdom (UK), a survey disclosed that approximately 40% of the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) was consumed on supply chain related activities. Because of the extensive use of gross domestic product (GDP) on supply chain, it is important to work on UK based supply chain companies and to reveal various factors to enhance supply chain performance. Therefore, the primary objective of the current study is to investigate the combine effect of audit determinants and leadership styles to enhance supply chain performance in UK based companies. Data were collected from audit department employees and other managerial employees who are closely related to supply chain activities. After analyzing the data through Smart PLS 3, it was found that audit and leadership styles played important contribution in supply chain performance. Moreover, top management and employee commitment to change maintained significant influence to enhance positive effect on audit and leadership. This study is much significant for UK supply chain companies to enhance supply chain performance.

E-commerce market of Pakistan is instable which causes low performance of e-logistic industry. Thus, logistic industry of Pakistan is lacking as compared to other developing countries such as China, India, and Malaysia. Low performance is majorly based on low staff service quality, inappropriate website design and goods traceability system. As remedies of these issues, the current study introduced firm’s IT capability and information communication technology (ICT). The primary objective of this study is to investigate the determinants of e-logistic firm’s performance in Pakistan. To achieve this objective, quantitative research approach along with cross-sectional research design was used. By using the survey method, 300 questionnaires were distributed among the managerial staff of e-logistic companies. Smart PLS 3 was used as a statistical tool. It is found that staff service quality, website design and e-traceability had significant and positive relationships with firm’s e-logistic performance. Moreover, firm’s IT capability as a moderator enhanced the positive effect of staff service quality, website design and e-traceability. Nevertheless, information communication technology (ICT) positively mediated the relationship between e-traceability and firm’s e-logistic performance. Hence, firm’s IT capability and information communication technology (ICT) are the key elements to decrease various issues of staff service quality, website design and e-traceability. The study is much significant for practitioners and e-logistic companies to enhance performance by focusing on firm’s IT capability and information communication technology (ICT).

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the various factors influencing on people to invest in mutual funds and examine the mediating role of investor’s perception. By using quantitative research approach and cross-sectional research design, 300 questionnaires are distributed among the individual investors and Smart PLS 3 is used to analyze the data. The results reveal that risk and return, liquidity of assets, demographic factors (gender, age, and material status), convenience, reduction in transection cost, tax benefits and transparency were the key factors and maintained significant relationships with investment in mutual funds. Moreover, investor’s perception maintains mediating role between all these factors and investment in mutual funds. The study contributes in literature by investigating the various factors, which influence on investors to invest in mutual funds. Moreover, it also contributes by investigating the mediating role of investor’s perception.