Climate change poses a significant threat to food security, poverty alleviation, and the economic growth generated by agriculture. In 2020, it is anticipated that the massive impacts of climate change, warfare, pests, and spreading infectious diseases will jeopardize food production, damage the supply chains, and over-stretch people’s ability to obtain nutritious foods at affordable/reasonable prices, threatening agricultural markets’ competitiveness. The study compiles information on climate change, competitiveness, and literature that links these phenomena to agricultural market competitiveness. The objective is to investigate the peer-reviewed and gray literature on the subject and explore the link between climate change and agricultural market competitiveness. Moreover, this study aims to find an appropriate technique to validate this assumed relationship. The findings indicate that there is currently no comprehensive measure/composite index for assessing the agricultural sector’s global competitiveness. The majority of used indicators of agricultural competitiveness do not account for the effects of climate change on agricultural market competitiveness. The study concludes by outlining implications/justifications for developing a global agricultural competitiveness index incorporating climate change impacts. The index is essential to maximize the potential of agricultural markets for optimizing the agricultural sectors’ competitiveness, and also to ensure global food security.

: This study aims to assess tuberculosis (TB) patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to determine the relationship between HRQoL and the socioeconomic and health characteristics of patients. A mixed-method approach of explanatory sequential design is used in this study. Data were collected at 11 TB centers and two private clinics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Quantitative data were collected through a standardized questionnaire (SF-36) of RAND organization from 269 pulmonary TB patients. Qualitative data were collected through 20 in-depth interviews, 15 Key Informant interviews, and a focus group discussion. The maximum score of SF-36 is 100, however, different aspects of HRQoL indicated that patients scored lowest in the role limitation physical (10.3) and emotional (11.2) categories, while the highest remained in the mental health (45.3) category. Patients of higher age, being female, low household income, and comorbidity decreased the HRQoL. Qualitative findings show that TB affected the patients’ social functioning, vitality, and emotions. Moreover, poverty and low income, people living in Kacha Houses, family support, and the hate from family members and community are related to low HRQoL. In summary, TB has affected the Patients’ HRQoL. TB program managers should pay attention to the nonmedication aspects of TB management. Financial support should be extended TB patients. This study calls for the urgent attention of the National Tuberculosis Program and policymakers, for an increased focus on patients’ welfare programs.

The ongoing water conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the transboundary Kabul River Basin are narrowly focused on quantitative water distributions, which lead to winlose situations. This study proposes a novel idea of using the biodiversity and ecosystem services (BESS) concept to bring together multiple stakeholders across the KRB and transform the water-sharing conflicts. The study redefines the water management problem in the context of a green water economy and evidence of shared environmental benefits. The study found that the BESS provided by the Kabul River are vital for the livelihood of the residents and the natural flow of water is a win-win situation for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The study recommends designing PES schemes for the sustainability and shared prosperity of the region. A new perspective on transboundary water conflicts in the KRB is needed, one that focuses on shared environmental benefits and the BESS of the river basin. This new perspective could lead to more cooperative and sustainable water management solutions.1. INTRODUCTIONBiodiversity and the ESS is a complex but significant area, which influences the well-being of humans in diverse ways. The ESS can provide provisioning services as well as regulate services. The literature shows different approaches to the of provisioning ESS (Häyhä, Tiina, & Franzese, 2014). Placing an economic value on nature can be a powerful tool as it makes the invisible benefits identifiable. ESS represent outcomes of a natural system which benefits the people. The significance of water as a natural resource and ecosystem provides a wide range of services and various functions as the use of water for drinking, irrigation, or livestock (Radoslav, 2018).River water services provide numerous benefits in terms of social and ecological facilities, which benefit the people and contribute to the well-being of the area. Globally, in 150 countries, there are a total of approximately 310 transboundary rivers. Water-related conflicts are not only frequent but are increasing due to the current worsening situation of water globally. Several water treaties are in place between various countries, yet the conflicts emerge frequently (Wang, et al., 2021). The water politics of transboundary rivers are emerging as a compelling research field in social hydrology. Many international basins are governed by multi-level institutions. Besides, the valuation of the benefits of river systems can positively contribute to efficient river-water management and reduce water-related conflicts and problems (Khan & Zhao, 2019). However, this is not the case with managing the Kabul River Basin (KRB).The KRB between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not governed by an international agreement and boundary problems, that is, the contested Durand Line, affect the relationship (Yousaf, 2017). Water conflicts in the KRB between Afghanistan and Pakistan have intensified since 2000, coupled with security issues due to the ongoing insurgencies in the region. Growing industrialisation, urbanisation, and climate change which affect the continuity of snow-fed rivers, environmental hazards, and the geostrategic importance of the area further exacerbate these disputes. The existing transboundary water mechanisms are state-centric and bilateral, exclude other relevant actors, and emphasise water quantity as the basis for water sharing (Yousaf, 2017). These agreements disregard the broader biodiversity and ecosystem services (BESS) of the river basin and what these services could imply in terms of enhancing human well-being. The BESS of water includes biodiversity, provisioning (e.g., food production), regulating (e.g., climate & water regulation), supporting (e.g., nutrient cycling), and cultural services (recreational, spiritual) (Pavan, Wittmer, & Miller, 2014). The value of global BESS was estimated at $145 trillion in 2011 at a time when global GDP was $73.3 trillion 1 (Robert, et al. 2014). Extrapolating to the river basin between the two countries, one can argue that understanding the value of the BESS in the region could lead to a different problem framing and enable integrative multi-level bargaining leading to winwin solutions. While the BESS values the interdependence of humans and nature, it also offers conceptual and empirical tools to communicate with a wide-ranging audience (Robert, et al. 2014) and reveals the cost of damage, it may lead to the commoditisation or privatisation of such resources (Sullivan, 2013). Therefore, an analysis is required for a better understanding of the water BESS (it may still avoid such commoditisation) to evaluate if a change in the behaviour of relevant and powerful actors can be pursued while addressing socio-relational (dispute resolution, capacity building, and intergenerational equity) and ecological (pollution prevention, and the protection of BESS) goals and, thereby, contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By embracing economic, ecological, and social-relational mechanisms, the BESS concept connects the environmental system with politics and decision-making as well as fosters interdisciplinary science (Schröter, et al). It enables integrated trans-disciplinary approaches to solve such complex issues by building bridges between science and practice (Robert, 2011). The water conflict arising due to transboundary river basins can be analysed using an ecological valuation. Hence, the focus of this study is on estimating the provisioning ecosystem services on Pakistan’s side of the KRB. An objective of the study is to develop an understanding of transforming a win-lose situation into a win-win situation for both parties.

This study examines how extended version of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) affects households Willingness to pay (WTP) for getting access to clean drinking water. In order to validate how extended version of TPB and WTP are related, it also considers people's Environmental concerns (EC) as antecedent variables to core TPB factors. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is employed to validate the hypotheses of the research after recruiting 401 participants. The result of current study showed that TPB factors play a significant role in effecting households’ intention to pay (IP), which subsequently influences their WTP. Additionally, the households’ environmental concerns, as antecedent variable play a significant effect on core TPB factors i.e. attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavior control (PBC). In turn, these core factors of TPB shape households' intention to pay, which subsequently influences their WTP for getting access to clean drinking water. It gives stakeholders a chance to observe how extended version of TPB and WTP interact with one another. To increase WTP for getting access to clean drinking water, raise awareness about environmental risks. Promoting the concern for environmental can improve attitudinal and behavioural aspect of an individual. These changes then result in enhancing intention to pay (IP). Aligning messages with people's environmental values helps build support for sustainable water access. The recent study also contributes to the literature in behavioural and attitudinal contexts by examining extended TPB constructs, and community responsibility in relation to getting access to clean drinking water services.

Air pollution is among the major causes of death and disease all around the globe. The prime impact of ambient air pollution is on the lungs through the respiratory system. This study aims to estimate the health cost due to air pollution from a Sugar Mill in the Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. To determine the impact of pollution on respiratory illness, primary data were collected from 1141 individuals from 200 households living within a 3 km radius of the mill. The Household Production Method was used to drive the reduced-form Dose–Response Function and the Mitigation Cost Function for assessing the impact of pollution on health and then estimating the monetary cost associated with mitigating such illnesses. The results indicate that about 60% of the respondents living in the surrounding area of the mill suffered from different respiratory illnesses. The study estimates that by reducing the suspended particulate matter (SPM) level by 50%, the expected annual welfare gains to an individual living within a 3 km radius of the mill are US $20.21. The whole community residing within a 3 km radius of the mill will enjoy an estimated welfare gain of PKR. 70.67 million (US $0.511 million). If the pollution standard limits prescribed by the World Health Organization are followed, the expected monetary benefits to all the individuals living within a 3 km radius of the mill are PKR. 114.48 million (US $0.27 million) annually.