Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are essential for the expansion of any economy, and innovation is what ensures their continued success and improved performance. The main objectives of this study are to identify the key factors that influence innovation capability, to ascertain the effect of innovation capability on SMEs' performance, and to examine the role of innovation capability as a mediator between its key determinants and SMEs' performance. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (Smart PLS-SEM) was used in the study to accomplish this purpose, and data from 249 manufacturing SMEs registered at the Hattar Industrialist Association (HIA), Industrial Estate, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were used to collect the data. All of the constructs used in the study are valid and trustworthy according to Cronbach's alpha, which measures structural stability. The results show that operational and managerial capabilities are not statistically significant drivers of SMEs' innovation potential, while technological and transactional capabilities are statistically significant predictors of SMEs' innovation capabilities. The results also show that innovative competency has a positive effect on SMEs' success. The study also found that innovation capability plays a statistically significant role in mediating the relationship between technological capabilities and performance as well as the relationship between transactional capacities and performance. But neither the role of innovation capabilities in mediating the link between operational capabilities and performance nor the function of innovation capabilities in mediating the relationship between managerial capabilities and performance are statistically significant. It indicates that in order to improve the performance of SMEs, it is necessary to investigate the attitudes and behaviour of SMEs in order to identify the causes of their lack of management and operational competencies.

There is no denying to the significance of natural resources in the growth of the economy. There is not much that can be done in the economic sphere without sufficient raw materials. This is the rationale behind prioritising the extraction of natural resources from conveniently accessible places over those that require more effort. China follows the same model and has high-speed expansion in coastal regions, leaving inland regions in the dust. Rich in energy resources Xinjiang is ready for the booming development like the other regions of China. However, the major challenge in this development is “Sea port”. Abundant in energy sources, Xinjiang, like the other areas of China, is prepared for rapid development. However, "Sea port" is the main obstacle to its development. Xinjiang is one of China's most ecologically sensitive regions since it is one of the driest locations and is the furthest away from any ocean or sea. China aims to connect Xinjiang to global markets through Pakistan's Gwadar port in order to promote rapid economic development. In actuality, China is interested in expanding Gwadar port for economic reasons. The growing importance of Central Asia's oil resources, China's rising energy needs from the Persian Gulf, and China's "go west" programme for its western area are among the reasons for China to assist Pakistan in the development of Gwadar port. The paper argues that China will choose Gwadar port as a gate way for import and export of Xinjiang’s products instead of its own faraway eastern ports.

Cultural barriers make it harder for women to rise in an organizational context in Pakistan, but the sociological and cultural infrastructure of industrialized nations provides more power for women to hold high positions. The purpose of the current research is to look at the influence of glass ceiling beliefs (Denial, Resilience, Resignation, and Acceptance) on the job performance of female employees in Khyber-education Pakhtunkhwa's department in Peshawar. Through a convenient sample approach, an adapted questionnaire was sent to 275 female employees at the directorate of education offices through email and personal contacts; the acquired data was analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. The study's findings indicated that the first and second hypotheses, according to which denial, resilience, and work performance are positively and substantially related, are accepted. However, the resignation and acceptance were found to be negligible, indicating a negative relationship between these variables and female employee work performance, leading to the rejection of the study's third and fourth hypotheses.