Introducing "Social Prism": Illuminating Perspectives in Social Sciences Welcome to Social Prism In a world where knowledge is no longer confined by disciplinary walls, Social Prism emerges as a vibrant platform for cutting-edge research that defies traditional categorizations. As the Chief Editor, I invite scholars, researchers, and thinkers to contribute work that challenges conventions, bridges divides, and illuminates the complexities of our rapidly evolving societies.
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Systemic Barriers to Demand-Driven Higher Education in Developing Economies: A Stakeholder Perspective
Higher Education Institutions in developing economies are faced with the chronic challenges of matching their output to the needs of the labour markets thereby leading to high rates of graduate unemployment, underemployment and skills gaps that have impeded economic growth. Although demand-driven education has been promoted as one of the solutions, no systematic consideration of the barriers to implementation based on the perspectives of stakeholders has been conducted. The current research adopts a qualitative exploratory research design, which applies the focus group approach in exploring the systemic barriers to the demand-driven higher education reform.In August–September 2025, two focus group discussions were held with twenty education stakeholders, comprising university leaders, policymakers, quality assurance professionals, and senior faculty members. Seven interrelated categories of barriers were identified in the reflexive thematic analysis, which consist of governance and institutional coordination gaps, curriculum obsolescence, resource constraints, industry-academia disconnect, sociocultural exclusions, technology integration deficits, and demographic pressures. Results have shown that these barriers are systematic and not confined, creating reinforcing loops that perpetuate educational-labour market mismatch. The first source of institutional coordination arises when there is a gap in institutional coordination that is defined by the dispersed dissemination of demand information among regulatory agencies, thus, ensuring that the universities do not get access to integrated labour market information. Resource inequities, both limit the capacity of innovation and rationalize the existence of outdated programmes. The research provides context-specific information about implementation barriers within resource-scarce contexts and provides empirically-based suggestions to policymakers aiming to achieve educational reforms in developing economies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mirza Muhammad Bilal Baig, Muhammad Usman Awan, Rab Nawaz Lodhi, Atif Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Comparative Study of AI Tools Adoption and Its Impact on Educational Practices in Public and Private Universities
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming an integral component of the future of higher education, that is transforming traditional approaches to teaching and learning, academic research, assessment practices, and institutional administration. The literature of empirical studies covering emergent and resource-constrained situations is scarce although the scope of its influence has been rapidly expanding on the international stage. As a result, this paper involves the comparative analysis of the use of AI tools and the perceived effect of the latter on both the public and the private universities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. The study assumes that adoption depends on the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, institutional compatibility, and structural support thus analyzing the hypothesis that adoption is the nexus between technological integration and salient educational outcomes. Using quantitative, comparative survey as the research methodology, data were gathered involving 460 respondents, including faculty members and postgraduate students who were recruited, in a distributive way, in a public university (Gomal University), and a non-governmental university (Qurtuba University) in the city of Dera Ismail Khan. The instrument that was rigorously validated measured five central dimensions namely the rate of adoption of the AI tool, perceived effectiveness, user satisfaction, perceived performance improvement, and motivation. To question disparities in sectors, descriptive statistics have been employed along with independent-sample t-tests. The empirical study demonstrates a significantly greater rate of AI-tool use in the case of the public university, compared to the one in the private one. However, the two institutions did not show any statistically significant difference as regards to perceived effectiveness, user satisfaction, performance, or motivational outcomes. These results indicate that, despite the role of institutional context in access, the delivery of infrastructure, and the adoption patterns, the perceived pedagogical importance of AI technologies overlaps in sectors when the process of meaningful integration becomes a reality. That is, the adoption gap seems to be organized, but not observational of the difference of education levels. The study advances the academic discourse on the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education, and especially in developing countries, by explaining how institutional preparedness, digital infrastructure, transparency in governance, and capacity development in the professional sphere can play a central role in supporting sustainable adoption of AI. The results highlight the need to establish institutional policies, sound ethical frameworks, and policy interventions that are narrowly focused and with which together would help to make AI technologies in KP and similar emerging environments the subject matter of responsible, fair, and pedagogically significant integration.
Copyright (c) 2025 Laraib Khan, Muhammad Junaid Siraji (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Environmental Factors, Behavioral Interventions, and Political Leadership Development: A Critical Reassessment of Genetic Determinism
The present paper seeks to closely examine the ongoing debate about the relative roles of genetics and environmental factors in the formation of political leadership. Leadership studies conducted in the early days were based on the theories of Francis Galton, which emphasized the biological basis of leadership.The trait-based leadership theories further reinforced the idea of the importance of personal traits and cognitive abilities, which are often genetically predetermined, in the formation of political leadership. However, recent advances in political psychology, behavioral sciences, and epigenetics have challenged the reductionist idea of the biological predetermination of leadership ability. This study, through the lens of Social Learning Theory, Ecological Developmental Theory, and recent leadership theories, argues for a socially constructed idea of political leadership ability. Environmental factors include education, political socialization, exposure to mentors, and institutional training. Behavioral factors include leadership workshops, political engagement, and behavioral training. This study uses a quantitative approach through the analysis of a sample of 250 participants from a population of university students and political representatives (Union Councilors) using the SPSS software. The study makes use of reliability analysis, which involves Cronbach’s alpha, correlation analysis that involves Pearson, and multiple regression. The study revealed that environmental factors and behavioral interventions have a strong predictive role in the development of political leadership ability, whereas the idea of genetic determinism had a weak predictive role. The study suggests a socio-environmental model in the development of political leadership ability. This study makes a contribution to the existing literature on leadership capability due to its interdisciplinary approach to the study of political leadership.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nadir Abbas , Muhammad Mudabbir Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social Media Strategy and Political Mobilization: A Case Study of PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The rise of digital communication technologies has fundamentally transformed political communication across the world. Social media platforms such as Face book, Twitter (X), YouTube, and Instagram enable political actors to communicate directly with citizens, bypass traditional media gatekeepers, and mobilize supporters rapidly and effectively. In Pakistan, the growing penetration of smart phones and internet access has made social media an important arena of political engagement. Among Pakistani political parties, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been widely recognized for its strategic and systematic use of social media for political communication and mobilization. This research paper examines the social media strategy of PTI in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and analyzes how digital communication platforms contribute to political mobilization, narrative building, and voter engagement. The study adopts a qualitative research approach based on thematic analysis of interviews, digital political content, and scholarly literature on political communication. The findings suggest that PTI has effectively used social media to construct political narratives related to governance reforms, anti-corruption, and national identity. The party’s digital strategy has enabled it to reach younger voters, create interactive political communities, and mobilize supporters for political participation both online and offline. The study concludes that social media has become a central instrument of contemporary political communication in Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2026 Badar Munir , Mudassir Zaheer (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of AI Awareness, Perceived Bias, and Ethical Concerns on Pharmaceutical Marketing Decisions: Mediating Effect of Trust
The purpose of the current study is to examines the impact of AI awareness, perceived AI bias, and ethical concerns on pharmaceutical marketing decisions, with trust as a mediating variable. Artificial Intelligence has changed the world and everything is in the process of transformation. In the pharmaceutical sector the AI integration has great impact on its marketing and decision-making. Many problems are faced in its proper integration because of algorithmic bias, ethical issues, and trust among professionals. The research adopts a quantitative survey-based approach and collects data from medical representatives also known as the real marketers, working for pharmaceutical companies. A sample of 274 respondents was selected using Cochran’s sampling formula. The study used simple random sampling technique and the data were analyzed in SPSS 25. The findings reveal that AI awareness significantly and positively influences pharmaceutical marketing decision-making. The PAI bias negatively affects decision outcomes while the ethical concerns positively influence decision-making. Moreover, the mediation analysis confirms that trust plays a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between AI awareness and decision-making, while reducing the negative effects of perceived bias. The study highlights the importance of AI literacy. The pharma sector must ensure transparency and implement ethical frameworks to develop trust for successful AI adoption.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Nabeel, Ibrahim Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Governance Turbulence and Skilled Migration: Examining Pakistan during Imran khan era
This paper examines the complex relationship between political instability and the acceleration of brain drain in Pakistan during the tenure of Prime Minister Imran Khan from 2018 to 2022. Employing a qualitative -methods approach, this research analyzes longitudinal emigration data, sector-specific workforce trends, and qualitative insights from professionals who emigrated or considered emigrating during this period. The study finds that political turbulence during these years, characterized by frequent policy changes, civil-military tensions, and no-confidence motions, exacerbated pre-existing economic vulnerabilities and significantly contributed to the decision of highly skilled professionals to seek opportunities abroad. The emigration of critical workforce segments including healthcare professionals, engineers, IT experts, and academics intensified, depriving Pakistan of essential human capital needed for sustainable development. This research contributes to the broader understanding of how political factors interact with economic determinants in influencing migration decisions and offers policy recommendations for mitigating brain drain through institutional stability, economic reforms, and diasporas engagement strategies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Javed, Muhammad Umar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Infrastructure and Development through the IMEC: India’s Role in Regional Growth and Sustainability
The paper presents the role of the Indian state in the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) and examines the implication of this analysis with regards to infrastructure based regional integration and sustainable development by adopting qualitative approach to the problem that is the document analysis, case studies, semi structured interview, network analysis and estimation through the gravity model. It concludes that IMEC is a geo-economic tool, which strategically serves India by encouraging multimodal transport and digital connection, logistical friction and energy route diversification, and that clear governance and stringent green standards are critical towards creating positive spillovers. The paper provides original empirical data because it positions IMEC as a type of infrastructure-as-statecraft with geopolitical and sustainability-oriented aspects and, therefore, reflects the originality and importance of the study. Its practical recommendations are based on effective funding plans, sustainability protection and inclusive regulatory principles to maximize employment, increase cooperation within the region and the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals with great emphasis on the urgency and the practicality of the matter.
India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC)
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Ismail (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Chahbahar vs. Gawader: Assessing Strategic competition and its implications for Pakistan
This research paper examines the strategic, geopolitical, and geo-economic implications of Iran’s Chahbahr Port as an emerging alternative to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, evaluating the resulting challenges and opportunities for Pakistan in the evolving architecture of regional connectivity. As China and India expand their influence in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region, seaports have become central instruments of modern statecraft, economic integration, and power projection. Gwadar, developed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), plays a pivotal role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), offering Beijing critical access to the Arabian Sea and shortening its energy and trade routes. Conversely, India’s strategic partnership with Iran through its investment in Chahbahr provides New Delhi with an alternative gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. This development carries major implications for Pakistan’s economic leverage, regional influence, and security environment. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in thematic analysis, the study synthesizes existing literature, trade patterns, geopolitical behavior, and strategic alignments to assess both ports’ comparative capacities, connectivity corridors, and regional impact. Findings reveal that while Chahbahr expands India’s strategic reach and reduces Pakistan’s monopoly over Afghan transit trade, Gwadar retains superior natural depth, logistical capacity, and long-term geostrategic potential due to CPEC’s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure support. However, the strategic rivalry between China and India complicates cooperation possibilities and heightens geopolitical competition across the Indian Ocean and Central Asia. The study concludes that Pakistan must adopt a proactive policy framework to maximize Gwadar’s economic potential while mitigating the impact of Chahbahr’s rise through diplomatic engagement, regional connectivity initiatives, and enhanced security measures. It also recommends exploring selective cooperation mechanisms among Pakistan, Iran, and China to prevent Chahbahr–Gwadar competition from escalating into a zero-sum rivalry.
Copyright (c) 2025 Naila Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Islamic Perspective on Women’s Rights: Questioning the Necessity of Feminism
This thesis critically examines women’s rights in Islam in comparison with feminist ideology, with a particular focus on whether feminism is necessary in Muslim societies. Using a qualitative thematic analysis of primary Islamic sources—including the Qur’an and Sunnah—together with classical jurisprudence and contemporary feminist literature, the study highlights the sufficiency of Islam’s equity-based framework in ensuring women’s dignity, empowerment, and justice. The findings reveal that Islam guarantees women’s comprehensive rights in inheritance, property, education, marriage, and social participation while maintaining complementary roles that safeguard family and social harmony. In contrast, the feminist pursuit of absolute equality, shaped by secular and Western socio-historical contexts, often neglects natural gender differences and has produced unintended consequences such as family disintegration and moral instability. Furthermore, misrepresentations of Islam in feminist critiques and media narratives obscure its protective and empowering dimensions, fostering misconceptions about Muslim women’s status. The study concludes that feminism, as a Western secular ideology, is not necessary within Muslim societies. Instead, the revival and implementation of authentic Islamic teachings provide the most coherent and sustainable framework for women’s empowerment. Recommendations include strengthening Islamic education, pursuing contextual legal reforms, promoting media literacy, conducting further empirical research, and supporting renewal and reinterpretation within Islamic scholarship. This research contributes to gender and Islamic studies by addressing gaps in existing literature and offering a culturally and theologically grounded response to feminist critiques. It reaffirms that Islam, as a holistic divine system, remains both sufficient and relevant in addressing women’s rights in the modern world.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rabia Niaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social Media: A Catalyst for Change in Pakistan?
The role and power of social media is growing in Pakistan, where there are now over 76 million mobile phone users in the country on the internet. There are more than 40 million social media users, and this number is growing daily with Facebook as the most widely used social media platform. This study provides preliminary findings on how social media is used by citizens and social groups, political parties and candidates, and the Prime Minister and his opponents, comparing three case studies using data from Facebook obtained via CrowdTangle in 2020. In the first case study, search term Arzoo, social media became voice of the suppressed, poor and marginalized in society when the underage marriage and forced conversion of Arzoo Raja, a 13- year Christian girl, brought citizens together and particularly Christian minority, to call for justice, with the sum of posts shared at 117,500 over a one-month period. The second case culminated over the same time period, searching on Gilgit-Baltistan, on the 2020 Assembly election in which parties and candidates used social media to reach and attract voters starting campaigning in June and the election was postponed to November, with the sum of posts shared at 1,216,837. The third case searching on Prime Minister Imran Khan, brought up posts by him, his allies and opponents, and the sample is one week in November 2020 before the Gilgit-Baltistan vote, with the sum of posts shared at 413,037. Shares represent the size of social network. The volume of posts and the drivers of public engagement online in the case of Arzoo, are compared with examples from political elites, to discuss whether social media may become a catalyst for change in Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Waseem Khokhar, Dr. Mujahid Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Digital Storytelling as a Tool for Employee Engagement: A Literary Approach to HR Communication in the Age of AI
This article delivers an analytical piece on the concept of digital stories as an employee engagement tool in information-overloaded workplace environments and suggests an ethical, empirically testable model of HR communication in an AI world. The secondary qualitative review will synthesize peer reviewed and practitioner literature published between 2010 and 2025 and will involve illustrative analysis of publicly available internal artifacts. At work, stories have seven themes that describe their functioning. Stories construct meaning by connecting tasks to strategy, voice and co creation, more autonomy, and a sense of belonging, decisions in literary craft, character, setting, conflict, arc, motif, and tone determine identities, platform affords determine reach and depth, AI can enhance ideation, captions, and localization, and authenticity demands the provision of disclosure, consent, provenance, and accessibility, and the role of measurement is triangulation of pulse items, qualitative comments, and behavioral traces. A Literary HR Communication Model is presented in the paper that fits storycraft, engagement levers, channel and cadence, AI workflow and human editorial stewardship, and governance and ethics. A five-stage roadmap is used to guide Diagnose, Design, Develop, Deploy, and Measure. The review relates the literary studies, HR and internal communication, and HCI and AI, elucidates the mechanisms, and provides practical guardrails that help to present credible, inclusive stories.
Copyright (c) 2025 Aqsa Akbar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Green or Grey? Assessing the Environmental Impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Europe
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), introduced in 2013, stands as the largest infrastructure development effort of the twenty-first century, creating transport, energy, and trade corridors that connect Asia, Africa, and Europe. Although the BRI offers prospects for economic expansion and greater regional interconnectedness, its environmental consequences—especially within Europe—have become a major point of discussion. Given Europe’s stringent environmental laws, varied ecosystems, and strong climate objectives, questions have emerged regarding the alignment of BRI projects with sustainability targets. This research examines the dual nature of the BRI’s presence in Europe—evaluating whether it serves as a sustainable, “green” vehicle for investment and innovation or a “grey” driver of ecological harm. Through qualitative methods and thematic interpretation of interviews with specialists, this article identifies both the environmental dangers and possibilities inherent in the initiative. The results indicate that although the BRI may facilitate collaboration in renewable energy, knowledge exchange, and sustainable practices, it also introduces considerable risks such as increased carbon output, harm to biodiversity, ecosystem disruption, and continued reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, inconsistencies between BRI developments and EU environmental regulations present further obstacles to sustainable execution. The study concludes that the BRI embodies a conflict between developmental and ecological priorities in Europe, underscoring the necessity for stronger policy mechanisms, international environmental cooperation, and engagement from civil society. Policy proposals include harmonizing regulatory benchmarks, implementing thorough and transparent impact evaluations, and integrating eco-friendly technologies in upcoming BRI endeavors.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Shahiryar, Dr. Robina Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sufi Epistemologies of Hubb: The Eternal Pulse of Sufi Love in Contemporary Rumi’s Daughter
Sufism as a decent phenomenon precedes to enlighten massive amounts of lives through empirical wisdom, custom exposure and literature. In some previous research studies, researchers have attempted to infer, analyze and investigate the quintessence of Sufism theory and Rumi Phenomenon implied upon Modern Turkish and English Literature. Amalgamated to the general theory of Sufism, this paper is an attempt to analyze Sufi “Hubb stages and stations' ' (Divine Love processes) from Spiritual philosophy accurately applicable to Sufi assets of Novel’s characters. By source of Interpretivists approach, Firstly, Turkish Fiction "Rumi's Daughter" categorized under ‘Rumi Phenomenon’ is thematically analyzed by focal points of Spiritual theories of Idrees Shah and Hijwiri preluding to categorical and self-definitive results. Secondly, the accommodation of Sufi theories was cross-checked with characterization of characters. Lastly, the global theories of humanitarianism, stoicism and philanthropy are generally prescribed in novel within application of Sufism. The result of study implies that characters of novels are committed towards Hubb degrees with engraved essence of Oneness, Reality and Individualism. Considerations infer that characters and themes possess base structure and potential for being positioned as exclusively Sufi Oriented Literary pieces. In a nutshell, Sufi genre of Turkish Fiction renders a pseudo-activist avatar to reclaim the hearts of youth stuck in the spider web of Existential and Nihilistic viewpoints of life.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nousheen Nasir, Sareer Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AI in Modern Warfare: Impacts on Information Operations, Cyber Conflicts, and C2 Systems
This research delves into the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on modern military operations, emphasizing its impact on information warfare, cyber conflicts, and command and control (C2) systems. With the rapid evolution of AI technologies, their incorporation into military strategies has introduced significant complexities, bolstering both offensive and defensive capacities. The initial section explores AI's application in information warfare, where AI-powered tools enable automation in strategies such as disinformation campaigns, targeted propaganda, and social media manipulation to disrupt adversarial communications and sway public opinion. It assesses the implications of cyber-attacks on military hardware and operations, emphasizing the growing reliance of military systems on digital networks and the vulnerabilities posed by cyber threats. The study further inspects the incorporation of AI into C2 systems, particularly in the realm of net-centric warfare and offers strategic insights for Pakistan to leverage AI and robotics in military operations. The research highlights the critical need for adapting to emerging technologies to safeguard national security in an increasingly interconnected digital era.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Umar Farooq Baloch (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Hybrid Warfare, Grey Zone Conflicts, and the Battle of Narratives: Discourse as a Strategic Weapon
This paper explores the changing nature of warfare in the current environment, which has brought into focus the nature of hybrid warfare and the grey zone of military conflict, including the central role that discourse and narrative play as strategic weapons. Conventional war has changed, state and non-state adversaries are employing Information operations, influence warfare and media control to achieve strategic end states without the use of force of arms. This investigation is based on a qualitative research design with the critical discourse analysis (CDA), and strategic communication theories providing the overall framework for how stories create views, change attitudes and, perhaps, even realign hard geopolitical circumstances. The paper integrates theories from international relations, as well as media and military strategy, to examine case studies such as Russian activities in Ukraine, Chinese influence in Asia and ISIS propaganda. The results illustrate the growing importance of narrative supremacy in current conflict and suggest countermeasures to democratic resilience.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alizeh khakwani, Muqadas Saleem, Dr. Muhammad Mudabbir Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Resource Security in a Fragmented World: Supply Chain Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Deep-Sea Mining
Growing recognition that global supply chains are becoming more fragmented, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and economic nationalism, is raising the profile of resource security. Deep-sea mining (DSM) has become a new battlefield for securing strategic materials for green technology, defense technology, digital technology. This article explores the nexus between supply chain nationalism and the geopolitical dimensions of DSM, in which states and corporates are fighting for space to access seabed resource. Using examples from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the study underscored the regulatory gaps, environmental threats and strategic considerations of DSM to global resource governance. Without strong international cooperation, the race for deep-sea minerals could worsen geopolitical rivalries and environmental destruction, the findings indicate.
critical mineralssupply chain nationalism
High-Performance Work Systems and Employee Performance in Public Universities: The Mediating Role of Burnout Management and Moderating Effect of Workload
This study examines the impact of High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) on Employee Work Performance (EWP) in public sector universities in Pakistan, with a focus on the mediating role of Burnout Management (BM) and the moderating effect of Workload (WL). Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theories, we propose an integrated model that addresses the psychological and organizational mechanisms linking HR practices to performance outcomes. Using a sample of 350 teaching faculty members from 13 public universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we employ a cross-sectional survey design with validated scales for HPWS, EWP, BM, and WL. Results from correlation, regression, mediation, and moderation analyses reveal that: (1) HPWS has a strong positive association with EWP (r = 0.768, p < 0.01); (2) BM partially mediates the HPWS-EWP relationship (indirect effect = 0.18, 95% CI 0.12, 0.25) and (3) WL significantly moderates this relationship, with the positive effect of HPWS diminishing under high workload conditions (β = -0.13, p < 0.01). These findings contribute to strategic HRM literature by demonstrating how psychological well-being and job demands interact with HR systems to influence performance in resource-constrained academic environments. Practical implications for university administrators and policymakers are discussed.
Copyright (c) 2025 Attique-Ur Rahman, Dr. Muhammad Imran (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Translation and Validation of Internalized Stigma of Substance Abuse Scale Urdu Version
The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Urdu version of the Internalized stigma of substance abuse scale (ISSA-U). The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, forward and backward translation was performed and linguistic equivalence was tested on a sample of 50 bilingual participants. In the second phase, a reliability analysis was conducted using Cronbach's alpha and the split-half method, followed by exploratory factor analysis. Phase three included validation of the scale. Convergent validity was estimated by applying the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) to a sample of 300 drug addicts. The item correlation results showed a highly significant relationship among the items of the ISSA-U. The Cronbach's alpha index was significantly high (r =.93). Exploratory factor analysis revealed five solution factors with high loading values. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the ISSA Urdu and HDRS, demonstrating convergent validity. The ISSA-U showed sound psychometric properties and proved to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring internalized stigma.
Copyright (c) 2025 Iqra Sageer, Alia Asmat, Ayesha Sarfaraz, Saddam Hussain, Arsalan Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Impact of Interpersonal Discrimination on Identity Formation and Function Status among Religious Minorities in Pakistan
The study aimed to examine the impact of interpersonal discrimination on identity formation and functional status among Christian minority in Pakistan. A Cross sectional research design was used in the research, with a total sample size of N = 300 Christians (n=160) males and (n=140) women. Purposive sampling was used to gather data both in-person and online from churches and universities. Participants filled out three self-report questionnaires assessing interpersonal discrimination, identity formation and functional status. Pearson correlational coefficient, simple linear regression and t-test were used to test the hypothesis. The result showed a significant negative correlational of interpersonal discrimination with functional status(r = -.23, p <.001) and identity formation (r = -.25, p <.001). Furthermore, simple linear regression analysis showed that interpersonal discrimination strongly predicted a reduction in functional status (β = -0.23, p <.001) and a weakening with identity formation (β = -0.25, p <.001). These findings suggest that interpersonal discrimination had a negative impact on the functional status and identity formation of Pakistan's Christian minority. This study has implications for developing tolerance programs and relaxation workshops to counteract the effects of discrimination, emphasizing the importance of counselling services to improve self-esteem and coping skills, as well as policy measures like anti-discrimination training and equal access to resources to reduce discrimination against minorities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Arsalan Khan, Dr. Muhammad Junaid Siraji, Dr. Shabnam Razaq Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pakistan’s PECA 2025 and Global Digital Regulations: Balancing Security and Freedom
PECA 2025 has been feared to negatively impact the digital freedoms and liberal politics of Pakistan as it has potentially provided preventive measures against cybercrimes. The passed law increases government control over the online environment by adopting more rigid content restrictions, creating the criminalization of code ‘fake news’, and making the bulk of social media platforms register with the government. While the Pakistan government has claimed that PECA 2025 is necessary for protecting from cyber threats, fake news and scammers, some critics believe that PECA 2025 legalises over surveillance, frees enterprise to control dissent and limit press freedom. Thus, the present research aims to perform a comparative legal research of PECA 2025 with the digital regulations of India, the USA, Great Britain, Turkey, and China to define its compliance with the trends. Based on the Digital Authoritarianism Theory, the study examines if PECA 2025 adopts standard democratic digital governance or if they reassert state control in online environments. CDA is applied and its efficacy is seen in how it examines contextual reasons given for legislation, the type of language contained in legal documents and the inherent ideologies informing policies. Research shows that while PECA 2025 shares its features of cybersecurity with the countries away from dictatorship, its enforcement mechanisms, as well as its general provisions on censorship, correspond to the tactics of authoritarian control in cyberspace. Therefore, the paper concludes that while PECA 2025 promotes internet safety, regulations for this purpose are likely to be employed as a form of political oppression. The implication of this paper is that there is a need to come up with an effective policy framework that can allow the governments to embrace cybersecurity policies while protecting basic digital rights to embrace the best governance model that is democratic.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Syed Asad Ali Shah, Muhammad Nasir Butt (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analytical study for the assessment by Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) for monitoring teaching effectiveness and physical facilities in Secondary Schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
This study endeavors to find quality assurance in schools monitoring measured by the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU) which covered critical areas of interventions and requires independent monitoring on monthly basis to track progress. This plan also sets out a series of interventions and reforms that will support the attainment of the objectives like teacher’s attendance and enhancing teaching skills. The main objectives of the study were; 1) To find out the quality assurance of school monitoring by this Independent Monitoring Programme. 2) To assess the teaching effectiveness and effective use of ICT. 4) To assess the physical facilities of schools. 5) To assess the Support establishment of performance monitoring mechanisms. 6) To assess the increase retention and reduction of dropout with improved teaching, learning and with less teacher absenteeism. Null Hypothesis entail that there is no significant effect of IMU Programme in promoting effective teaching by teachers whereas Alternate Hypothesis reflects that there is a significant effect of IMU in promoting effective teaching by teachers. The study was perception based work whereas three stakeholders i.e. Head Masters, Teachers and Students were selected for this research study. The population of the study was all Government High schools Boys and Girls of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Total six girls and boys schools were selected, out of these, sample of 50 (40 from Students, 08 from teachers & 02 from Head Masters) taken from each school. Thus total numbers of sample was 300. Name of selected schools were:- 1) GHS Boys Kirri Khesure lie at most northern part of D.I.Khan. 2) GHS Boys Parova lie at the most southern part of D.I.Khan. 3) GHS Boys Kachi Paind Khan situated in D.I.Khan city. Whereas three selected GGHS were:-1) GGCMHS No.1 lie in the heart of City. 2) GGHS Wanda Madad 35 Kilometer away from D.I.Khan City at North side. 3) GGHS Behari Colony, Zafarabad, D.I.Khan. It is concluded that IMU is a systematic and planned monitoring programme. Main focus was given to teacher’s absenteeism. This programme may also extend to measure other dimensions like school physical facilities, teacher’s competencies, students drop out and their retention etc.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Muhammad Arshad Khan, Dr. Aasmin Saeed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Macroeconomic Dynamics in Pakistan: The Role of Inflation, GFCF, and FDI in Economic Growth
This study examines the nexus between inflation, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on economic growth in Pakistan, utilizing annual time-series data from 2010 to 2023. Employing descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, the findings highlight a significant negative impact of inflation on GDP growth, whereas GFCF and FDI positively influence economic expansion. The results underscore the pivotal role of capital formation and foreign investments in fostering sustainable economic development, while emphasizing the detrimental effects of inflation on economic performance. Policy recommendations include targeted inflation control measures, enhanced investment in infrastructure, and strategies to attract FDI to achieve stable and inclusive growth. These findings contribute valuable insights to the understanding of macroeconomic dynamics in developing economies like Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Zuhair Fazeel, Muhammad Fiaz, Muhammad Ashraf Farid Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Climate Injustice Paradox: Why Pakistan Bears the Burden of a Crisis It Didn’t Create
Pakistan, responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, has emerged as a tragic emblem of climate injustice, enduring catastrophic climate impacts disproportionate to its minimal role in precipitating the crisis. The 2022 super floods—which submerged a third of the country, displaced 33 million people, and inflicted $30 billion in losses—epitomize this paradox. This article examines how Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to climate change, driven by geographic precarity, socioeconomic fragility, and historical inequities, underscores systemic failures in global climate governance. While industrialized nations, historically accountable for the majority of emissions, evade meaningful reparations, Pakistan and other Global South countries face escalating disasters without adequate financial or technological support to adapt or recover. Through a mixed-methods approach combining empirical data, policy analysis, and ethical critique, this study argues that the climate crisis is not merely an environmental issue but a profound moral failure. It highlights the limitations of international mechanisms like the Paris Agreement and the Loss and Damage Fund, which remain underfunded and politically contentious, leaving frontline states like Pakistan to shoulder burdens they did not create. The article further employs a postcolonial lens to interrogate how legacies of resource extraction and uneven development exacerbate climate vulnerability in formerly colonized regions. Ultimately, this research calls for urgent reforms grounded in climate justice: binding emission cuts by high-polluting nations, equitable climate finance, debt relief, and reparations to redress historical responsibility. By centering Pakistan’s plight, the article underscores that addressing climate injustice is not only a moral imperative but a prerequisite for global solidarity and sustainable resilience in an increasingly unstable world.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayesha Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Mediating Role of Work Ethics in the Relationship between Islamic Spirituality and Job Satisfaction of Employees Working in the Industrial Sector
This study examines the mediating role of work ethics in the relationship between Islamic spirituality and job satisfaction among employees in the industrial sector. Despite growing interest in the influence of spirituality on workplace outcomes, there remains a gap in understanding how Islamic spirituality specifically impacts job satisfaction through its effects on work ethics. The study aims to address the following research questions and hypotheses: H1: Islamic spirituality positively influences job satisfaction. H2: Islamic spirituality positively affects work ethics. H3: Work ethics mediates the relationship between Islamic spirituality and job satisfaction. The study employs a quantitative research methodology; utilizing random sampling technique, data was collected from employees in the selected sample 309 Al-Moiz Suger Mills Staff members by survey method approach. Measures of Islamic spirituality, work ethics, and job satisfaction are assessed using validated scales. Regression analysis and mediation analysis are conducted to test the hypothesized relationships. Findings indicate a significant positive relationship between Islamic spirituality and job satisfaction, supporting H1. The study also finds a positive direct effect of Islamic spirituality on work ethics, providing support for H2. Furthermore, mediation analysis reveals that work ethics partially mediates the relationship between Islamic spirituality and job satisfaction, supporting H3. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the mechanisms through which Islamic spirituality influences job satisfaction in the workplace. The findings highlight the importance of fostering work ethics as a pathway to enhancing job satisfaction among employees with high levels of Islamic spirituality. These insights have implications for organizational leaders and practitioners seeking to create spiritually enriching work environments conducive to employee well-being and productivity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Adeel, Liaqat Ali, Muhammad Nabeel, Jazish ul Wahab (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Enhancing Inter-Institutional Collaboration for Successful E-Governance in Pakistan: An Analysis of Future Perspectives
E-Governance is a way to approach the coming era of public administration in contemporary ways while keeping the public involved in policy development. The biggest barrier, however, is effective inter-institutional coordination. This paper examines the current status of e-governance in Pakistan and what it is doing, along with issues, opportunities, and success stories. It goes on to examine future pathways for boosting inter-institutional interaction and incorporating state-of-the-art innovations like big data analytics, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. The report suggests policy, legal, and technological amendments to ensure cooperation and improve e-governance. This study can be the key to realizing the full potential of e-governance in Pakistan for the betterment of stakeholders and policymakers.
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Nadir Abbas (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Impact of CPEC Phase II on Pakistan’s Regional Development
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a transformative venture with profound implications for Pakistan's regional development. After the successful execution of Phase I, which focused on infrastructure and energy, Phase II pivots towards industrial cooperation, socio-economic development, and agriculture, seeking to address Pakistan's regional disparities. This article examines the impact of CPEC Phase II on Pakistan’s regional development, exploring its contributions to economic growth, infrastructure enhancement, and socio-economic progress. It highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by this phase and offers policy recommendations to maximize its potential for fostering equitable regional development.
Copyright (c) 2024 Naila Saleem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Family Laws and Domestic Violence in Pakistan: A Shariah Perspective
Family laws in Pakistan intertwine with Islamic jurisprudence, state legislation, and cultural norms, shaping domestic relationships and societal values. This article critically evaluates Pakistani family laws, particularly their provisions on marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, inheritance, and domestic violence, through a Shariah lens. It identifies points of congruence and divergence between Pakistani statutes and Islamic principles, highlighting the gaps that undermine women's rights and justice. Recommendations for legal reforms and enhanced implementation mechanisms are provided to harmonize these laws with both Shariah ideals and modern human rights frameworks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mujahid Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan’s Economic Revival
Women entrepreneurs are a vital force in Pakistan’s economic landscape, contributing significantly to economic growth, job creation, and innovation. Despite cultural, financial, and structural challenges, their participation in entrepreneurship has steadily increased in recent years, driven by factors such as digital platforms, supportive government policies, and international collaborations. This article examines the multifaceted contributions of women entrepreneurs to Pakistan’s economic revival, explores the barriers they face, and suggests policy measures to foster an enabling environment. The analysis draws on the latest data, case studies, and theoretical frameworks to highlight the transformative potential of women entrepreneurs in reshaping Pakistan’s economy.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sarwat Habib (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Inclusivity and Resilience in Higher Educationthrough Digitalization
The purpose of this study is to investigate how digitalization affects inclusivity and workforce resilience within higher education institutions (HEIs). Based on a quantitative research design, data were collected by administering structured questionnaires to faculty members of both public and private universities in Dera Ismail Khan. Digitalization features the next inclusivity in a workspace and makes it less susceptible to weakening workforce resilience by democratizing access to knowledge and fostering collaborative opportunities. At the same time, digital solutions come with challenges as digitalization can widen the digital divide through disparities in technology access and proficiency. It reinforces the need to distribute resources accordingly in terms of digital tools and training within HEIs to leverage transformations optimally. This fieldwork should be supplemented with further in-depth research across more varied institutions, examining long-term effects.
Copyright (c) 2024 Malaika Khan, Muhammad Taous, Muhammad Fiaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Socio-Economic Development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Assessing The 1st Term of Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf
This research meant to assess the socio-economic development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province after general elections of 2013. Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won the elections for the first time and was successful in forming government in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the PTI chairman Imran Khan, he was all set to govern the country as per his anti-corruption drive and agenda for socioeconomic development of the nation. So, it was about his test that how he run the province and to what extent PTI is able to govern the country. This study is qualitative in nature where the primary data was collected from the archives, official record, statements of the government official and official websites. Secondary data was gathered from research articles, newspapers, and journals. Content analyses was utilized for the gathered data so desirable answers could be offered to the research questions. After careful research and analysis, the researcher reached to the conclusion that PTI has successfully contributed to the socioeconomic development of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The outcomes of the research are also validated by the results of next two general elections where the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa voted in majority for PTI and Imran Khan.