Introduction of modern technologies and methods and quality analysis for the gemstone industry are the main strategic initiatives of the Small and Medium Development Authority (SMEDA) of Pakistan. In this regard, four natural gemstones Quartz, Pyrope-Almandine Garnet, Black tourmaline, and Amethyst brought from Hunza valley Pakistan were analyzed by state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques including EDX, UV-VIS, and FTIR spectroscopy. EDX revealed the traces of Fe, Mg, and Ca in Pyrope-Almandine garnet, Mg and Fe in Black tourmaline, Au and Ca in Amethyst. UV-VIS data revealed the values of Urbach energies 520, 210, 460, and 430 meV, and the values of direct bandgap energies 5.14, 6.12, 5.54, 5.74 eV, respectively. The higher structural disorder due to the presence of Fe and other impurities in stones except Quartz was attributed to the higher values of Urbach energies and decrease in band gaps: FTIR data Fe-O and Si-O stretching vibration in Pyrope-Almandine garnet, Si-O bending vibrations and O-H stretching vibration in Quartz, Si-O-Si bending and stretching vibrations and C=O stretching vibrations in Black tourmaline, Ca-O stretching vibrations and Si-OH weak-vibrations in Amethyst. Photoluminescence results also showed useful information in investigating the properties of gemstones.

This research study compares the financially-distressed and financially-healthy companies, on the basis of their board composition and size, ownership and performance, over the 2006-2010 time period. While focusing on manufacturing sectors in Pakistan, the logit-regression results reveal that all variables are significantly different between financially-distressed and financially-healthy companies. The first of its kind, the present study benefits business people as well as financial analysts and investors. Their decision-making processes will be enhanced as they evaluate financially-distressed firms and financiallyhealthy ones. The study has some limitations also. It has ignored financial sector of Pakistan because of different reporting style of financial firms. The periods before and after the period of financial distress have also been ignored in the study. Despite its limitations, the study contributes a pragmatic insight into the systemic aspects of financial performance, most helpful both to future business research and to policymaking practice.

This research study has tried to examine the association between the working capital and corporate performance in the textile sector of Pakistan. Textile sector is one of the major sectors in Pakistan which have crucial contribution in the economy. Secondary data was gathered and used for the evaluation of the relationship between the working capital and corporate performance in the textile sector of Pakistan. Data was collected from the annual reports of the companies published during 2008-2012. Regression Model is used for the analysis of the gathered data. Results revealed that average collection period and operating cycle are positively associated with the corporate performance of the organizations in Pakistan. Corporate performance is measured through return on equity and firm size is positively associated with the return on equity. Leverage is negatively linked to the return on equity in the textile sector of Pakistan. Overall it has been observed that working capital and corporate performance are linked and have significant impact on the textile sector of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Renal stone are hard solid non metallic mineral particles that forms in urinary tractespecially in kidney in response to multiple etiological factors including genetics, environmental,metabolic, hormonal etc.OBJECTIVE: Renal calculi are stony hard solid particles that form in urinary tract. Most of the timestones are small and passes out in urine without causing problems. Sometimes a stone may causesretention of urine resulting in excruciating pain and needs prompt medical/ surgical treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out in Pathology DepartmentBannu Medical College Bannu. The duration of this study was three years (January, 2012 to December,2014). A total of 84 renal stones were analyzed by using chemical qualitative method. Each stonesample was washed, dried, crushed and then analysis was performed using qualitative chemical analysiskit Biolabo, Manufacturer Biolabo SAS, France.RESULTS: The commonest renal calculi are mixed stone 31 (%) followed by uric acid (28.1%) calculi,followed in frequency by calcium oxalate calculi (26.1 %), mixed calculi containing calcium oxalate anduric acid (21.8%) and calculi containing calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate (10.4%). Other varietyof calculi was less common.CONCLUSION: This study like other studies show calcium oxalate as the commonest renal calculi, butother calculi varies in their frequency as also in other studies.KEY WORDS: Renal calculi, Chemical analysis of stones, Calcium oxalate stone.