Pakistan ranks 149th in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and has failed to keep pace with other countries in the region, except Afghanistan, with respect to health indicators. Home deliveries are linked to a higher risk of maternal death; therefore, discouraging home deliveries is imperative to improve maternal health. This study provides a holistic view and analyses factors affecting home birth decisions within the context of maternal socio-demographic characteristics in Pakistan. The study exploits the latest data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2012–2013), which includes a nationally representative sample of 13,558 women aged 15–49 years. However, the sample was reduced to 6977 women who had given birth in the 5 years preceding the survey. Statistical techniques, including bi-variate and multivariate logistic regression, were used to analyse the data. The dependent variable was dichotomous and coded as 0 for home deliveries and 1 for deliveries at a health facility. The dependent variable was constructed based on information regarding the most recent birth in the 5 years preceding the survey. The study reveals that giving birth at home is highly prevalent among mothers in Pakistan (Baluchistan, 74%; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 53%; Gilgit Baltistan, 46%; Punjab, 45% and Sindh, 34%) because of their difficulty obtaining permission to visit a health facility, financial barriers, the distance to health facilities and transportation. Substantial variation is observed when geo-demographic characteristics are considered. Higher home childbirth rates have been recorded in rural areas compared with those in urban areas (OR 1.32; p ≤ 0.000). The likelihood of home birth is highest (OR 2.67; p = 0.000) among women in Baluchistan province and lowest (OR 0.48; p = 0.000) among mothers in Punjab province. After controlling for all odds ratios and demographic characteristics, the parents’ education levels remain a significant factor (p = 0.000) that affects women’s decisions to deliver at home rather than at a health facility. The study findings provide a better understanding of why women prefer to give birth at home. These results can help policymakers to introduce appropriate interventions to increase the number of deliveries at health facilities. These findings are expected to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Pakistan.

| In the recent times agriculture sector has been considered as one of the most affected sectors by climate change. Climatic factors that have direct influence on agricultural productivity are: rise in temperature, heavy rainfall, precipitation, floods and drought etc. This paper has empirically examined the effect of climatic variations on cotton productivity in Pakistan. In order to evaluate the climate change, three climatic variables (rainfall, max. temp and min temp) and three non-climatic variables (technology, fertilizer and area) had been used for analysis. Historical climate data from 1981-2015, was collected from Pakistan Meteorological Department, while data of Technology, fertilizer and cotton area has been gathered from Pakistan Economic Survey. ARDL bound testing econometric approach was employed to gauge the empirical estimates. The outcomes of cointegration shows that all climate variables have statistically substantial effect on cotton productivity in Pakistan. Both rain-fall and maximum temperature have positive effects while minimum temperature has negative effects on cotton production. Furthermore, both fertilizer and area have positive impact on cotton production. long run cointegrating relationship holds among climate change variables and cotton productivity. mitigating negative impressions of climate change requires strategies focusing on the adaptation of climate resistant cultivars.

| The indifference and dereliction of Pakistan’s legislators in formalizing an agricultural tax regime has unequivocally induced critical structural weaknesses in the fiscal machinery. Addressing the concern, the study has analysed the impact of agriculture taxes on the share of agriculture GDP of Pakistan and empirically investigated the long run relationship between the variables using time series data for last 23 years. It was empirically evaluated that increase in agriculture taxes led to a decrease in agriculture share of GDP. 1% increase in in the level of agricultural income tax decreased share of GDP by 0.073%. Whereas increase in land tax revenue had a significant positive effect on the agriculture share of GDP. Exempting agriculture income tax would give respite to agriculture community as done in china, where zero agriculture income tax was applied in practical. However, if income tax must be made functional then that tax rates should be revised in accordance with the income potential of agriculture lands; large land holdings be taxed, shares of the collected tax at district level should be spent on provision of local services which, in return, would help farmers increase income leading to higher income tax revenue.