SMEs have been efficiently used as the vehicles for promoting innovation, productivity, and the competitiveness of a country's national economy. Across the globe, SMEs have been playing a distinctive role in achieving the socioeconomic objectives such as employment generation, poverty reduction, equalizing the distribution of national wealth, fostering innovation, and nurturing institutional competitiveness. The main objective of this study is to empirically examine the extent to which financial constraints hamper the growth of SMEs in Sindh, Pakistan. To collect the primary data, survey questionnaires were distributed to 100 SMEs from different economic sectors and registered in the Chamber of Commerce Offices in Sindh. Seven (7) critical financial constraints to SMEs were determined through the literature and included in the questionnaire. The data were analyzed through descriptive analysis and correlation techniques. The results show that SMEs in Pakistan are severely constrained by financing, particularly external equity. Financial ecosystem for SMEs in Pakistan is not friendly and one-size fits all rules and regulations may not suffice the financing needs of SMEs in Pakistan. It has been observed that the institutional weaknesses and market failures exacerbate the financial constraints of SMEs. The government, exclusively, should develop specialized banks and funds to cater to the financing needs of SMEs in their various stages of the business cycle. Furthermore, the Credit Guarantee Schemes (CGS) should also be launched to share the risk of Financial Institutions for lending to the SMEs.

This paper investigates the financial ratios prediction on Stock Market Returns for Pakistan Stock Exchange. The research includes three financial ratios; Dividend Yield (DY), Earning Yield Ratio (EYR) and Book-to-Market Ratio (B/M); that have been observed through past researchers as predictors of Stock Market Returns. The theoretical framework is based on Arbitrage Pricing Theory and Capital Asset Pricing Model CAPM by Roll and Ross (1977) and Fama-French 3 factor (1992). Generalized Least Squares (GLS) is applied to estimate the predictive regressions, Cointegration runs are applied to evaluate the long-term relationship, and Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) to measure the moments over the years and fluctuations in stock returns. The study results show financial ratios as strong predictor of stock return in Pakistan Stock Exchange, the GMM analyses reveal that the EYR has the higher predictive power than DY and B/M respectively. Furthermore, it is found that the financial ratios predictability is enhanced when ratios are combined in the multiple predictive regression models. The research findings are useful for the stock market investors to evaluate their decisions and for academic researchers to evaluate the stock market and investment predictability.

Third Party Logistics (3PL) is one of the fastest growing service industry but still the impact of the application of Quality Management Practices (QMPs) particularly on the integration capability of 3PL service providers in the supply chain is not a well-researched topic. Especially in the context of Pakistan, very little empirical work is found dealing with this very important service competency of 3PL. This research is carried out to determine how QMPs help 3PL Service Providers achieving integration competency in the service chain. The quality management dimensions of internationally recognized Malcolm Baldrige National Quality (MBNQ) model are used as independent variable to assess their impact on the integration competency of 3PLs in Pakistan. Considering the typical business culture and industry environment in Pakistan, the effect of Social Capital and Companies' Internal Strength as moderating variables was also observed. Using questionnaire as a tool, the quantitative data on various items for latent constructs was collected from more than 176 logistics firms of Pakistan. Results clearly identified the Strategic Planning, HR Management Focus and Process Management as the factors highly impacting Integration Competency of 3PL service providers in Pakistan. Interestingly, but surprisingly, the role of Leadership and Knowledge Management was insignificant in this particular setting. The moderating variable also showed a significant impact on integration competency. This study highlighted the areas where logistics firms in their individual capacity and logistics industry as a whole should immediately concentrate to enhance this important competency.

Regardless of the notable increase in the women workforce worldwide, their advancement toward the senior managerial designations has remained limited. The obstruction for women to achieve senior-level positions due to gender discrimination is referred to the Glass Ceiling (GC) effect. Gender discrimination persists as a constant setback globally, but it has become an acute problem in developing countries. The key objective of this study is to investigate the glass ceiling effect on women career growth in urban Pakistan. Deductive approach is used to determine the variables which support the GC effect. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed using random sampling technique among the female employees of Karachi, out of which 100 responded. Data is analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of SPSS. The study concluded that urban working women are drained with family responsibilities, workload and gender discrimination at work, which eventually results in inefficiency and a high degree of stress. Study findings reveal that the strongest predictor that hinder Women Career Progression (WCP) is Gender Stereotype (GS), followed by Organizational Practices (OP), and the Work-life Conflict (WLC). Based on the study findings it is recommended that the organizations in Pakistan should inculcate equality, encourage diversity in the senior management, offer the women workforce flexible-job arrangements and maternity leaves, and provide day care facilities to the children, to balance the women work-life conflicts.

This paper aims to explore prospects and opportunities of the use of Social Media Marketing tools by Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan, to develop and promote their business. The research data findings postulate the fact that the SMEs constitute over 90 percent of 3.2 million business enterprises listed under the Economic Census of Pakistan (2005,) generate 25 percent of manufacturing export earnings and contribute 30 percent to the annual GDP in the country. Despite this fact, the SMEs are considered to be less formally organized sector of the economy relative to large enterprises, have limited access to financial resources and are limited to their scale of production. Social Media Marketing, on the other hand, operates on a less complex organizational structure, requires lower financial investments and even makes an organization appear to be larger than its actual size. These analogous attributes establish a correlation between SMEs and Social Media Marketing. This paper intends to identify the various possibilities which can contribute to the growth and development of the SME sector in Pakistan. The study examines the data evidence and empirically tests the correlation between SME business progress & social media as a mode of business promotion. Consequently, this research paper focuses on how small businesses can use Social Media not only for advertising and marketing their products and services but also for building the business overall, employing transactional mechanisms, sharing information with customers and receiving their feedback and recommendations on a regular basis.