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The improvement of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance requires more efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts. The purpose of this study is to prepare Ni-W and Ni-W-P thin films using the electrodeposition technique using a pulse current and investigate their behaviors toward HER in an acidic solution.

The aim is to prepare Ni-W and Ni-W-P films by the electrodeposition technique using a pulse current and estimate their performance for the HER. The surface morphologies and chemical compositions of the deposited films were assessed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction. Linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, Tafel plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the prepared electrodes toward the hydrogen evolution process.

The main conclusion is that the surface morphology of Ni–W deposited film is a crystalline structure, while that of Ni-W-P deposit is an amorphous structure. HER activity on Ni-W electrodes increases with decreasing the Wt.% of W to 7.83 Wt.% in the prepared electrodes. In addition, the presence of P enhances HER activity, which increases with increasing the Wt.% of P in the prepared Ni-W-P electrodes. Both Ni-W (7.83 Wt.% W) and Ni-W-P (20.34 Wt.% P), which have been prepared at 8 A dm⁻² display the best performance toward HER compared to the other prepared electrodes. They exhibit high catalytic activities toward HER, which is evidenced by high hydrogen evolution current density values of 9.52 and 33.98 mA cm⁻², low onset potentials of −0.73 and −0.63 V, low Tafel slopes of −125 mV/dec, high exchange current densities of 0.058 and 0.20 mA cm⁻², low charge transfer resistances (Rct) of 226.28 and 75.8 ohm·cm² for Ni-W (7.83  Wt.% W) and Ni-W-P (20.34  Wt.% P), respectively; moreover, they exhibited considerable stabilities too.

The results presented in this work are an insight into understanding the performance of the prepared Cu electrodes coated by Ni-W and Ni-W-P films toward HER. In this work, a consistent assessment of the results achieved on laboratory scale has been conducted.

This paper aims to discuss the physical and thermal properties of the three-dimensional (3D) printing natural composite filament, as well as the tensile behaviour of the printed composites to get an insight of its possibility to be used as an ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) material.

Physical test that was conducted includes scanning electron microscopy analysis, thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry analysis as well as the effect of fibre load after extrusion on the filament morphology. Tensile test was conducted with different amounts of fibre loads (0, 3, 5 and 7 Wt.%) on the printed specimens.

There is an increment of strength as the fibre load is increased to 3 Wt.%; however, it decreases significantly as it is increased to 5 and 7 Wt.% because of the presence of voids. It also shows that the extrusion temperature severely affects the structure of the filaments, which will then affect the strength of the printed composites. Based on the results, it is possible to use kenaf/polylactic acid (PLA) filament to print out AFO as long as the filament production and printing process are being controlled properly.

The unique aspect of this paper is the investigation of kenaf/PLA filament as a material for 3D printing, as well as its material consideration for AFO manufacturing. This paper also studies the effect of extrusion temperature on the morphological structure of the filament and its effect on the tensile properties of the printed kenaf/PLA specimen.

This study aims to examine the Financial Action Task Force’s recommendations on virtual currencies (VCs) and how Pakistan has responded to them.

Qualitative document and jurisprudence analysis techniques were used to achieve the study’s goal.

According to this study, VCs are modern FinTech that no jurisdiction can ignore. However, Pakistan has not adopted regulations to govern VCs but comprehensively prohibits their use. It is primarily due to the apathy of various regimes and regulators. Furthermore, the geographical location, undocumented economy and rampant corruption could facilitate the abuse of VCs for money laundering.

This study has provided a significant overview for developing regulations for VCs in Pakistan and other developing jurisdictions with the same characteristics.

The study aims to explore the challenges of developing jurisdictions like Pakistan in achieving significant mutual legal assistance from the international community, especially for sharing financial information.

A qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews was adopted to complete the study’s objective. The selection of financial experts for interviews was based on purposive sampling.

This study concluded that Pakistan is facing several challenges, including mistrust of the international community; political disinterestedness and instability; delaying tactics in implementation, capacity and resources of law enforcers; and proximity with hostile neighbours.

Rare studies discussed this issue in the Pakistani context.

This study aims to explore the perception of the compliance officers of the Pakistani financial sector towards the placement of Pakistan on the grey list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

To achieve this objective, the study adopted a qualitative methodology and conducted semi-structured interviews with different financial institutes and their regulators.

The study found that role of the FATF is lopsided and politically motivated towards Pakistan. Although Pakistan has loopholes like many other countries, its treatment in the FATF is irregular. Therefore, the decision of the greylisting is not purely based on technical compliance, but political preferences are the determinative aspect.

This study provides a holistic overview of the FATF greylisting mechanism and how Pakistan is treated. This might provide both the FATF and Pakistan to revisit their policies.

This study aims to determine the applicability of the placement-layering-integration model of money laundering (ML) in the South Asian context with emphasis on Pakistan by analysing different ML typologies.

This study applied content analysis in the first step. It explored three primary documents concerning ML typologies: Asia Pacific Group’s yearly reports on ML typologies from 2010 to 2021, the mutual evaluation reports and the National Risk Assessment of Pakistan. In the second step, expert interviews were recorded, and NVivo was used for data management and analysis.

This study found primary predicate offences: corruption, tax crimes, smuggling and drug and human trafficking. Pakistani launderers often use traditional typologies, including cash smuggling, round-tripping, multiple bank accounts, investment in real estate (in Pakistan and Dubai) and hawala. However, cybercrimes, cyber laundering and trade-based ML are rising. The politically exposed persons are involved in most of the laundering cases.

Rare studies specifically address the south Asian typologies and the limitations of the placement, layering and integration model. Therefore, there is a need to understand the current typologies used in developing, less regulated and undocumented jurisdictions like Pakistan.

Tax amnesty (TA) schemes are typical in developing countries. Governments’ claims and suppositions are continually heightened; however, this may differ in actuality. This study aims to present an overview of the effectiveness of TA schemes and the problems they raise in implementing anti-money laundering regulations.

This study used a qualitative research design. Content analysis was used to analyse research articles, reports, legal documents and news articles.

Every amnesty offered in Pakistan from 1956 to 2018 failed to meet government expectations. Instead, the continuity resulted in an irrepressible black economy. The black economy’s uncontrollability undermines tax collection and hinders a robust anti-money laundering regime. Significantly, tax holidays with discrepant legislation strengthen evaders, plunderers and launderers. These policies severely impede the implementation of anti-money laundering policies in the financial institutions of Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistan's geopolitical location, circumstance and war against terror cannot afford any policy that provides monetary relaxation to offenders.

There is no concrete evidence to support long-term economic progress through the implementation of amnesty schemes as a revenue collection policy. This study evaluates previous studies and findings to understand the effect of tax amnesties on the financial industry of Pakistan. The findings have practical implications for tax collection authorities, policymakers and international financial bodies.

Previous studies have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Pakistan’s regular tax amnesties. However, this study discusses the implementation of TA schemes concerning anti-money laundering regulations and customer due diligence by financial institutes and provides suggestions to minimise its negative implications.

This study aims to investigates the challenges faced by Pakistani financial institutes (FIs) and regulators in implementing robust customer due diligence measures.

The study adopted a qualitative technique. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews with chief compliance officers and regulators were conducted.

The study concluded that the main challenges are name screening, obsolete nature and quality of databases and undocumented, unregistered and unregulated portions of the economy and society. In addition, identification and verification of high-profile customers and beneficial owners, lack of specialised staff and cost of compliance are the significant challenges faced by FIs in Pakistan.

The Pakistani financial sector is less researched on anti-money laundering front, especially concerning customer due diligence. Further, the social, cultural and economic norms of the Indian sub-continent are more or less the same. Therefore, the study findings could be generalised to the region.

This study aims to determine the performance of the Pakistani financial intelligence unit in combating money laundering/terrorist financing in local and global contexts.

The study used a qualitative research design. The objective is achieved by critically examining the Anti-money Laundering Act and its relevant clauses concerning the financial monitoring unit and other related legislation. Further, empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews with chief compliance officers from regulated entities, regulators and premier law enforcer.

The performance of the financial monitoring unit has severe issues concerning the dissemination of financial intelligence due to its time taking behaviour, non-sharing of feedback with reporting agencies, dearth of international cooperation, lack of trained and relevant personnel and financial constraints.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is a maiden study concerning financial monitoring unit in Pakistan.

There are a number of benefits associated with two-way concrete flat slab construction for office buildings, parking garages and apartments - for example, reduced formwork, prompt erection, flexibility of partitions, and minimal increase in story heights. However, concrete flat slabs could be quite vulnerable to punching shear failure in the event of a fire. The objective of the present article is to provide a state of the art review of the existing research and the issues associated with concrete flat slabs in fire and elevated temperature. There are a number of experimental and analytical studies on the punching shear behavior of concrete flat slabs in ambient conditions, available in the literature. Based on these studies, it is found that punching shear capacity in ambient condition is affected by many factors, which may not remain constant during a fire exposure. Only a limited number of studies on concrete flat slabs for punching shear failure in fire are available. This paper reviews the available experimental and analytical studies, standards and codes to address the research gap in estimating of punching shear strength of concrete flat slab-column connections without shear reinforcement.