Kashmir Journal of Academic Research and Development
The Kashmir Journal of Academic Research and Development is a multidisciplinary platform that publishes original research across a wide range of academic fields. It promotes innovation, critical thinking, and knowledge sharing to support educational and societal progress. The journal welcomes contributions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners worldwide. With a strong commitment to academic integrity, it provides a reliable source of peer-reviewed knowledge for students, educators, and professionals. Its vision is to foster intellectual growth and sustainable development through research and innovation.
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Intimate Partner Violence, Partner Substance Use, and Health Comorbidities Among Women in Pakistan: A Narrative Review
Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is widespread in Pakistan, and a growing but fragmented literature examines its relationship with substance use both a partner's alcohol or drug use as a risk factor for violence, and the survivor's own subsequent substance use as a hypothesized coping response alongside mental, reproductive, and physical health comorbidities. This narrative review synthesizes Pakistani and regional South Asian evidence on IPV epidemiology, its relationship with partner substance use, its health comorbidities, and the structural barriers keeping affected women from care, while distinguishing empirically supported pathways from theoretical assumptions. Nationally representative data indicate approximately one in three ever-married Pakistani women has experienced IPV, with a husband's alcohol or substance use consistently identified as a risk factor across national, community, and regional South Asian studies. IPV is consistently associated with depression, suicidal ideation, and postpartum depression, though evidence on physical and reproductive consequences remains limited. This review identified consistent, convergent observational evidence for one pathway (partner substance use → IPV) but found no Pakistani or South Asian evidence for the hypothesized reverse pathway (IPV → women's own subsequent substance use), supported only by theoretical reasoning and international data neither specific to IPV nor to Pakistan. This review's contribution is distinguishing these pathways clearly rather than conflating them, and identifying epidemiological, methodological, clinical, and policy gaps to guide future research, clinical practice, health-system development, and policy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Attia Rani, Hafeez Haider, Naghma Tareen, Zeeshan Mehfooz Sindhu (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Addiction to Short Form Video, Sustained Attention Span and Academic Performance among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Addiction to short form video has become an important issue due to its relation with several variables. The current study explores the relationship between addiction to short form video, sustained attention span and academic performance using quantitative methodology and purposive sampling of 600 college students. Participants responded to two self-reported standardized questionnaires; Short Video Addiction Scale (SVAS) and Attention-Related Cognitive Errors Scale (ARCES) and grades were used to assess the third variable. The results showed that higher levels of addiction to short form videos were associated with poor sustained attention span and somewhat poor academic performance of college students. Study hours were not significantly related to addiction to short form video and sustained attention span. Addiction to short form video became the most prominent factor associated with poor sustained attention span. The results of the study revealed the necessity of designing digital wellbeing programs for educational institutions in order to enhance attention span of students.
Copyright (c) 2026 Misbah Arshad, Smavia Arooj, Arooj Fatima, Ume Habiba, Noreen Khizar, Syeda Zainab Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities, Challenges, and Its Impact on Students’ Learning Outcomes
The rapid advancements of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) have profoundly reshaped the landscape of higher education, offering novel opportunities in the field of teaching, learning, and academic assistance. Student university learners are frequently using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot to aid their academic writing, information retrieval, concept clarification and research assistance. Yet, the introduction of GenAI also takes us to the other side of the coin, emphasizing the challenges of academic honesty, the reliability of information produced by AI, dependency, and how GenAI affects students' thinking abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the case of Generative AI in the higher education sector in Pakistan and to shed light on the perceptions of the opportunities, challenges, and impact of the use of Generative AI on learning outcomes from the university students' perspective. This study used a qualitative phenomenological research design and interpretivist paradigm. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with 18 university students with prior experience of using Generative AI tools for academic purposes from higher education institutions in Pakistan.The data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 18 university students who have prior experience in using Generative AI tools for learning purposes from Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. Braun and Clarke's approach to thematic analysis was used to analyze collected data. The results highlighted three key themes: (1) Generative AI as a learning enhancement tool, (2) challenges and concerns of AI adoption, and (3) the impact of Generative AI on student's learning outcomes. Students indicated that GenAI was used for personalized learning, enhancement of academic writing abilities, productivity and independent learning. But it was noted that there were also issues with academic misconduct, incorrect AI-generated data, overreliance and inequity in access to higher-level AI capabilities. The study reaches the conclusion that Generative AI holds tremendous potential to improve the learning experience in Pakistani higher education sector, but it is a matter of responsible use of Generative AI, AI literacy and relevant institutional guidelines and policies. The results highlight the importance of creating comprehensive AI policies, training faculty and students, and fostering critical discussions about AI technologies within the university environment. This research offers qualitative and quantitative analysis of the uptake of Generative AI in Pakistan and implications for educators, policymakers and higher education institutions to responsibly use generative AI in the classroom. The use of generative AI has been taking a significant turn in the recent times.Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been on a major transformative journey recently in the context of Higher Education (HE).
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)
Copyright (c) 2026 Aqsa Asif Khan, Sadaf Raja, Mahrukh Rehman Mirza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Circular Fashion in the Apparel and Textile Industry A Systematic Review of Innovations and Challenges
The situation of the fashion industries linear “take make dispose” model has caused an environmental crisis involving overuse of water, large GHG emissions (4 to 10% of global GHGs), resource depletion, and massive textile waste (92 million tonnes per year). Synthetic fibres account for 35% of ocean microplastic and conventional manufacturing processes uses ecosystem and explores finite resources. Circular fashion offers a revolutionizing alternative that focuses on design to last, resource efficiency and closed loop recycling, and new business models such as resale and rental. The second paradigm is oriented towards environmental protection, decreasing resource consumption, emission and waste, and also opens economic opportunities, with the second-hand market growing to the size of 350 billion dollars by 2050. In line with these pivotal Sustainable Development Goals, circular fashion provides a systematic answer to the growth of the industry and the parliamentary boundaries that need joint action from everyone interested in the sector to send towards a waste-free future.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rizwan Munir, Ayesha Hussain, Fareeha Khan, Muhammad Muddasar Mehmood, Tayyab Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Semiotics of Submission: Punjabi Folktales as Cultural Scripts of Gendered Behaviour
Folktales are a key part of a culture's history. Storytellers do more than tell stories. They pass down social rules, morals, and ideas about gender from one generation to the next. These stories act as guides that tell people how to act and who they should be. They often support the people in power. This study looks at five selected old Punjabi folktales to see how they push ideas of submission. It examines how these stories build and keep gender roles inside a patriarchal system. The research uses Critical Discourse Analysis. It takes a qualitative approach to look at symbols, language, and ideas. The researcher opted Thematic Content Analysis on the five stories to find common patterns. Researcher want to see how masculinity and femininity are shown. To get a full picture, the study includes interviews with famous folk storytellers. These experts explain why the stories matter today and how they are told. Combining the texts with these interviews helps show how symbols make gender expectations seem normal. The study expects to find that these tales praise women who are quiet, loyal, and obedient. At the same time, they reward men for being in charge and having power. These patterns teach people to accept patriarchal values. This research treats folktales as tools for teaching social behavior rather than just old art. It adds to the fields of sociology and gender studies by showing how stories help maintain the social order.
Copyright (c) 2026 Iqra Almas, Dr. Nizar Ahmad, Dr. Sajjad Ahmad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessing the Performance of Prediction Models for the KSE 100 Index: Empirical Evidence based on ARIMA, Artificial Neural Networks, and Hybrid Model
The prediction of the stock market has paved the way for minimizing the awareness of risk perception associated with portfolio investment. Previous studies evaluated multiple methods to find the best predictive model for future stock prices but concluded that there is no single model suitable for all stock markets. Consequently, for the investor, there is a great need to find the best predictive model for a rational investment decision. In this context, several models such as autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), exponential smoothing, artificial neural networks (ANN), and hybrid (neural network and ARIMA, ARIMA and exponential smoothing, and neural network and exponential smoothing) are tested for the Pakistan Stock Market for the daily closing, open, high, and low price of the KSE 100 Index from 2000 to 2022 to explore the best predictive model. The results show that ARIMA is the best method for the prediction of stock prices based on the KSE 100 index and suggest that the stakeholder follows the pattern predicted by ARIMA.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sayyed Sadaqat Hussain Shah, Ayesha Khalid, Lubna Irrum (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Deepfakes and Digital Identity Protection: Legal Challenges, Privacy Risks, and Regulatory Responses in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
With the rapid and increasing development of artificial intelligence (AI), deepfake technology has emerged to produce highly realistic synthetic audio, images and videos, thus presenting a wide range of possibilities as well as complex legal and social issues (Chesney & Citron, 2019; UNESCO, 2021). These technologies have valuable and legitimate uses in education, entertainment, and digital innovation, but their misuse has raised concerns about digital identity manipulation, privacy violations, misinformation, fraud, reputational harm and loss of trust in the public. While digital identity protection has gained increasing scientific interest, research on it is still scattered, only technical detection methods or only legal aspects are generally studied, and there is a lack of qualitative synthesis on the governance of digital identity and inter-jurisdictional legal aspects. The purpose of this research is to explore, critically analyse and provide a critical discussion of the legal challenges, privacy implications and regulatory responses raised by deepfake technologies, using a qualitative interpretivist methodology. The research uses document analysis, qualitative content analysis, comparative legal analysis, and analysis of the publications and peer-reviewed literature, legislation, judicial decisions, government reports, policy documents, international legal instruments and publications of the UNESCO, OECD, European Union and the Council of Europe. The conclusions reveal four interrelated themes: Emerging legal deficiencies in the protection against synthetic identity manipulation, rising privacy and human rights risks, differences in the national and international regulatory landscape, and the need for AI governance that is transparent, accountable, and rights-based. The analysis shows that the existing legal frameworks and jurisdictional issues are still hindering the effective protection of digital identities in a more connected digital world. Overall, the study makes a significant contribution to the growing body of research on AI governance, by synthesising insights from privacy law, digital identity protection, and regulatory governance, offering a holistic qualitative overview of deepfake regulation. It also provides concrete policy suggestions and measures for the improvement of legal accountability, harmonization of regulatory requirements, and responsible AI innovation while respecting fundamental rights for legislators, regulators, technology companies, and legal practitioners, as well as for policymakers. The authors conclude that there needs to be coordinated international regulatory cooperation, flexible legal frameworks, and human-centered AI governance that can strike a balance between technological innovation and safeguarding privacy, identity and democratic norms (OECD, 2019; UNESCO, 2021).
Copyright (c) 2026 Tabinda Mehdi, Muhammad Anees, Dr. Saeed Ahmed butt (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Recent Advances in the Management of Pink Bollworm in Cotton Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Review of Invasion Biology and Integrated Pest Management Approaches
Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) remains one of the most economically damaging pests of cotton worldwide, with particularly severe impacts in Pakistan, India, the United States and China. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pest’s biology, invasion history, and management, highlighting how temperature and other climatic factors regulate its development, survival, and seasonal population dynamics. While Bt cotton dramatically reduce resilience on chemical insecticides following its introduction, the emergence of resistance linked to mutation in cadherin and ABC transporter genes has undermined control in several regions even as areas like the southwestern United States achieved near-eradication through integrated approaches. Field data from Punjab and other cotton belts show rising infestation trends tied to seasonal and climatic patterns, underscoring the need for region-specific monitoring. This review examines a broad-spectrum management tool, including cultural practices such as early sowing, season shortening, stalk destruction and deep ploughing; Pheromone-based tactics including mating disruption and mass trapping; biological control agents such as Trichogramma parasitoid and entomopathogenic fungi; and chemical options including newer selective insecticides and rotational spray programs. Findings across studies consistently indicate that no single tactic provides adequate suppression and that combining cultural, biological, pheromone-based and chemical strategies within an integrated pest management framework offers the most sustainable and economically viable path forward for cotton-growing regions facing continued pink bollworm pressure.
Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)
Copyright (c) 2026 Qazi Pandhi Khan Hajano, Qais Ali, Jahanzaib Khurram, Komal Mithal Jiskani, Aneesa Zainab, Shakira Mushatque, Bilawal Magsi, Ayaz Ali Hajano, Mehran Ali Keerio, Waquas Rathore (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Assessment of genetic variability and selection potential in F₂ segregating populations of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Knowledge of the magnitude of genetic and phenotypic variability present in a crop species is fundamental to designing effective breeding programmes for developing superior cultivars. In this study, eight F₂ segregating populations of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was (IUB-2013 × NIA-95, Chandi-95 × M-23, NIA-Ufaq × M-35, NIAB-878 × Chandi-95, NIA-Noori × IUB-2013, Sadori × M-32, Sohni × NIA-Ufaq, ZAD-1 × Sadori) along with their twelve respective parents (IUB-2013, NIA-95, Chandi-95, M-23, NIA-Ufaq, M-35, NIAB-878, NIA-Noori, Sadori, M-32, Sohni, ZAD-1), generated from selected intra-specific crosses, were evaluated together with their twelve parental genotypes at the experimental field of the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam, during the 2025 Kharif season, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of variance detected significant differences among genotypes for plant height, sympodial branches plant⁻¹, bolls plant⁻¹, boll weight, seed cotton yield plant⁻¹, ginning outturn percentage, staple length and micronaire, confirming that exploitable genetic variability was present in the breeding material. Among the parents, NIA-Ufaq combined the tallest plant stature, the greatest number of bolls plant⁻¹ and the highest seed cotton yield plant⁻¹, while the F₂ crosses NIAB-878 × Chandi-95 and NIA-Noori × IUB-2013 recorded the highest seed cotton yield among the segregating populations. Broad-sense heritability estimates varied widely across traits and crosses, ranging from 3.66% (ginning outturn, Chandi-95 × M-23) to 99.17% (boll weight, Chandi-95 × M-23), while genetic advance ranged from 0.05 to 70.53 depending on the trait and cross combination considered. Seed cotton yield plant⁻¹ combined moderate-to-high heritability with substantial genetic advance in several crosses, most notably Chandi-95 × M-23 and NIA-Ufaq × M-35, indicating predominance of additive gene action and good scope for direct phenotypic selection in early generations. The crosses Chandi-95 × M-23, NIA-Ufaq × M-35, NIAB-878 × Chandi-95 and NIA-Noori × IUB-2013 displayed transgressive segregation for seed cotton yield, exceeding both respective parents, and are recommended as promising material for pedigree breeding aimed at developing high-yielding upland cotton genotypes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Madeeha Memon, Abdul Wahid Baloch, Piar Ali Shar, Zaheer Ahmed Deho, Tanweer Fatah Abro, Amber Memon, Sadam Hussain, Nadia Sipio (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Secure, Privacy-Preserving Federated Learning Framework for Smart Agricultural Supply Chains against Adversarial Data Poisoning in Supply Chain 5.0
Modern farming supply chains rely more and more on distributed IoT sensing technologies to enable prediction analytics across the entire supply chain for crop monitoring, harvest planning and logistics downstream. However, if machine learning pipelines are centralized, sensitive telemetry data collected in the field must constantly be funneled to remote cloud servers, posing significant confidentiality concerns while using up significant bandwidth and placing all of the risk in a single point of failure. Federated Learning (FL) alleviates the data-governance issue through edge model training and only sending global model parameter updates, but also makes the global model vulnerable to adversarial data-poisoning attacks from compromised farm gateways. In this paper, a secure and privacy-preserving FL framework is proposed that is tailored for decentralized precision agriculture under Supply Chain 5.0 paradigm. The framework combines localized training on the farm with a robust aggregation mechanism that filters out anomaly data by reviewing the pair-wise geometric variance of the data from the different clients before data is synthesized globally. The system was tested on a real multi-sensor data set from agriculture consisting of 16,411 IoT telemetry instances from soil moisture, ambient temperature, and atmospheric humidity, with each node collected from a different farm and all non-IID. The evaluation specifically targets a severe threat regime in which 40% of the network (two of the five nodes) is attacking the network with a coordinated attack using data poisoning. Under this attack, an undefended FedAvg baseline struggles to remain above 77.8% accuracy; on the other hand, the proposed centroid-filtered framework gradually increases its accuracy up to around 92.6% over 20 communication rounds, which is almost the level of the benign reference accuracy and makes the security premium about 1%. 4-way ablation (with respect to coordinate-wise median, Krum, proposed filter) reveals that the proposed filter is the only filter which maintains a stable trajectory and achieves the highest terminal accuracy, while Krum is oscillating randomly in the presence of colluding minority. Stress testing with different adversarial fractions (0% to 60%) shows that the accuracy of the defended model is close to benign up to 40% adversarial fraction, at which point the adversarial fraction becomes the majority, after which the accuracy drops significantly. The held-out set consists of 3,283 samples and the protected model achieves 96.5% classification accuracy and macro-average ROC AUC of 0.993 on this set. The framework provides an evidence-based platform to deploy trusted distributed intelligence in the agriculture edge network.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Irfan, Dr. Amir Hussain, Dr. Salman Qadri, Muhammad Yasir Khan, Dr. Kashif Razzaq (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparative Perspectives on TESOL Textbooks and their Implications for Pakistani TESOL
The TESOL textbooks' contents play a pivotal role in shaping and transforming learners' linguistic competencies, as well as preparing them to communicate effectively in both academic and social contexts. This study aims to conduct a comparative evaluation of the integration of multiliteracies within TESOL textbooks in South Asia, alongside global trends and TESOL practices in Pakistan. It reviews the incorporation of multimodal literacies in selected TESOL textbooks to assess their relevance in contemporary ELT culture. The paper also analyses current trends related to TESOL textbook practices in Pakistan by identifying their strengths, limitations, and disparities in comparison to regional and global practices. The comparative analysis reveals that, although global trends in TESOL textbooks are increasingly adopting multiliteracies- based approaches, South Asian textbooks show uneven adoption, and Pakistani TESOL textbooks face noticeable limitations in integrating multiliteracies. The study suggests that, despite being responsive to local needs and constraints, it is crucial to enhance ELT practices in Pakistan by aligning with global standards. The study concludes with practical recommendations for curriculum designers, policymakers, and teachers to effectively incorporate multimodal learning within the Pakistani TESOL context.
Copyright (c) 2026 Imran Hussain (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Influence of Policies and Challenges in Adopting Multiliteracies in TESOL Textbooks of Pakistan
The concept of multiliteracies has extended language education beyond basic reading and writing; it has emphasised TESOL learners' ability to produce and interpret meanings across various layers i.e., cultural, visual, digital, linguistic, and critical. This paper aims to evaluate the influence of instructional policies regarding the integration of multiliteracies, particularly in secondary-level TESOL textbooks in Pakistan. It examines both policy frameworks shaping ELT and the key elements of multiliteracies embedded in secondary TESOL textbooks. Furthermore, the paper identifies obstacles that hinder the proper incorporation of multiliteracies within the Pakistani context. The study highlights technological and infrastructural constraints, pedagogical barriers, and policy limitations as primary challenges. It also notes that despite the trend towards broadening literacy skills, their practical relevance in textbook development remains inconsistent and largely reliant on traditional skills. This is compounded by teachers' lack of preparedness, uneven resource distribution, and technological challenges in effectively implementing multiliteracies. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to align educational policies, curriculum design, textbook development, and teacher training to foster an inclusive multiliteracies-based TESOL culture. This aims to enable young TESOL learners in Pakistan to be sufficiently competent to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Technological vs. Infrastructural Barriers
Phytochemical Combination Therapy for Managing Diabetes-Associated Metabolic Dysfunction and Cognitive Decline.
Diabetes mellitus is no longer viewed only as a disorder of glucose regulation. Long-standing hyperglycemia and insulin resistance set off a chain of oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and lipid disturbance that damages tissues well beyond the pancreas and the vasculature. Over the past decade, a growing body of evidence has shown that these same disturbances reach the brain, contributing to memory loss, slowed thinking and behavioral changes that are now commonly grouped under the heading of diabetes-associated cognitive decline. Because metabolic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in diabetes share overlapping molecular pathways, including AMPK, NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/Akt and acetylcholinesterase-related signaling, a therapy that can act on more than one of these targets at once has obvious appeal. This review brings together the current preclinical and early clinical evidence on curcumin and quercetin, two widely studied dietary phytochemicals, and examines the rationale for using them together rather than alone. Curcumin is best known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, while quercetin has a stronger track record in improving insulin sensitivity and glucose handling. When combined, the two compounds appear to act in a complementary rather than overlapping manner, producing effects on glycemic control, oxidative markers and cognitive performance that are generally more consistent than either compound gives on its own. The review also looks at the practical barriers that have kept this approach from moving further into the clinic, particularly poor oral bioavailability, and discusses the delivery strategies, including phytosomes and nanoparticle systems, that are being tested to address this problem. The available data support combination phytochemical therapy as a promising, low-toxicity adjunct approach for diabetes-associated metabolic and cognitive dysfunction, though well-designed human trials with standardized dosing are still needed before firm clinical recommendations can be made.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hafiz Muhammad Umer Farooq, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Shoaib Azeem, Ghulam Shabbir, Mishkwat Hameed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social Media Addiction and Life Satisfaction among Undergraduate Students: The Mediating Role of Anxiety
This study aims to explore the relationship between addiction to social media and life satisfaction among university students in Pakistan and the mediation of anxiety. Research design used quantitative explanatory research design, while the data collection method used a structured self-administered questionnaire with validated measurement scales which were filled out by 150 undergraduate students. The analysis of data was carried out using SPSS and SmartPLS. The results of the structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping analysis showed that social media addiction negatively affects life satisfaction. Anxiety level was a significant mediator in this process, suggesting that high social media usage increases anxiety that leads to reducing life satisfaction. The results indicate that, as a psychological risk factor, unregulated usage of social media has a significant role among students and anxiety is a mediating factor. The study provides empirical evidence which is novel in the Pakistani context and provides some practical suggestions for the mental health practitioners, university counselors and platform designers. It is recommended that future studies and research continue to use the longitudinal design and experimental design to investigate the causal dynamics further.
Copyright (c) 2026 Asma Amanat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Explaining Actual Green Purchase Behavior through the Theory of Planned Behavior: Evidence of Mediating and Moderating Effects
The behavioral intents to get hold of green purchases and the actual act of acquiring green purchases are far apart. The research will be conducted with the view of enlarging the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to a wider magnitude, that is to say, their effect in influencing the green consumerism behavior with reference to the ethical obligation, environmental concern and government regulations. The hypothesized research is a cross-sectional research study that will look into how the brand characteristics can affect compulsive buying behavior with the help of brand addiction. In the hypothesis testing, Smart-PLS is used. A five point Likert type scale questionnaire that was administered in a real time face to face and the online survey was adopted in the research. The outcome demonstrates that there are favorable and Statistically meaningful Att, Sn, pbc and Ec that affect the green purchase intent, but ethics obligations do not play a Statistically meaningful role. Purchasing of a green purchase or not is also consequential by the green purchase intent in the purchasing decision. The study is going to add to the existing literature, enlarging the scope of TPB with the proposal of an ethical and policy-level variables. The findings can be easily employed by policymakers and marketers in an effort to make sure that sustainable consumption will be promoted through the creation of the relevant regulations and special green marketing strategies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Raheel Farooqi, Maria Baig, Muhammad Sufyan Ramish, Zahra Nazim, Maha Ansari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Teaching Critical Reflection or Performing It? Teacher Educators’ Experiences of Reflective Practice in Punjab, Pakistan
The role of teacher educators in Punjab, Pakistan in developing the critical reflection of future teachers is central to professional development programmes, though teacher educators’ own critical reflection has not been examined. This paper explores teacher educators’ understanding, practice, and experience of critical reflection in professional development settings in Punjab. Semi-structured interviews with 20 public-sector teacher educators were conducted and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. AI-assisted transcription produced initial transcripts, subsequently verified by the researchers and the data organisation was facilitated by NVivo 15 and AI-assisted coding. The analysis produced four themes, through which surface-level reflection as a professional habit, the performative compliance trap, and institutional power and reflective silencing are framed, and emergent instances of genuine critical reflection are documented. Results indicate that critical reflection functions predominantly as a compliance practice, governed by institutional surveillance rather than oriented toward transformative professional growth. The study extends understanding of how systemic and cultural constraints shape the quality and extent of reflective practice within the context of teacher education in Pakistan informing structural redesign of professional development programmes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Tahira Batool Bokhari, Dr. Naima Qureshi, Arooj Zaman, Dr. Yaar Muhammad (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring Teachers’ Experiences of Implementing Summer Camps in Public Schools of District Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Phenomenological Study
In the year of 2026, the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, started the Summer Camp Initiative which provided opportunities for children to learn through hands-on and child-centered learning activities during the summer vacation. The role of teachers in the implementation of the school-based initiative is central, but their experiences have been less researched. The current phenomenological study aimed at understanding the experiences of 12 public-school teachers purposively selected from District Dera Ismail Khan. Semi-structured interviews were employed for data collection, and Colaizzi's method was used for data analysis. There were six themes that were identified: initial expectations and uneven preparation; change in routine teaching practices; student engagement in meaningful but inconsistent ways; the effect of the local context; professional learning through improvisation; and priorities for the future of improving camps. Teachers found the camps useful with regard to stories, games, art, experiments and group activities. They also highlighted the following challenges as being related to extreme heat, irregular attendance, lack of teaching materials and unclear program expectations. The results showed that this half month activity had opportunities to use activity-based learning, but its success depends highly on the teacher's personal efforts as there was no consistent support system. Advanced orientation of teachers, adequate though moderate budgets, scheduling according to changes in the climate, better communication with families, and monitoring of the quality of learning, rather than paperwork, are recommended in this study.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Muhammad Junaid Siraji, Dr. Shehla Sheikh, Muhammad Munir, Tasleem Habib (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring ICT Integration in Teaching Practices: A Qualitative Case Study of Secondary School Teachers in Public Schools of Sialkot
This study explores the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in classroom teaching practices of public secondary schools of Sialkot. The study focused on the teachers’ perspective, ICT training experiences, use of ICTs in the classroom and challenges faced by the teachers regarding the integration of ICT. It was a qualitative study with multiple case study research design. 10 public secondary school teachers were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. According to the analysis, themes derived from data were ICT integration as a pedagogical approach to enhance teaching and learning, gaps in teacher preparedness for ICT integration, selective classroom use of ICT with limited assessment integration and converging barriers to effective ICT integration. According to the participants’ perspective, ICT can provide them with a valuable teaching aid, particularly using videos, diagrams, animations, maps, PowerPoint slides, and the internet to facilitate the delivery of hard-to-understand concepts. The participants also reported increased attention, interest and participation of students in the classroom with the use of ICT. The use of ICT in lesson planning and classroom explanation was primarily used, with limited use in assessment and feedback. It was revealed that teachers' use of ICT was constrained by low-quality resources, unreliable internet, lack of technical support, teacher training needs, lack of confidence, class size and time pressure. Teacher training for use of ICT in the classroom should be practical and subject-oriented. ICT infrastructure and subject learning materials should be available with continuous institutional support.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sidra Shahzadi, Syeda Asma Sarwar, Dr. Muhammad Jamil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions for Secure Digital Systems
The rapid development of quantum computing is one of the most transformative technological developments of the twenty-first century with profound implications for cybersecurity, digital governance and the future of secure communication systems. Traditional cryptographic infrastructures have fundamentally underpinned digital trust in banking, healthcare, defense, cloud computing, and global communication networks, but the advent of quantum computational power has led to increasing concern about the future of existing standards for encryption. This qualitative study critically examines the changing relationship between quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography through an analysis of the technological, institutional, ethical and governance challenges in the transition to quantum-secure digital systems. The study adopts an interpretivist and exploratory qualitative orientation that aims to understand how governments, cybersecurity experts, technology institutions and policy frameworks are responding to the disruptive potential of quantum technologies. Data were collected using thematic analysis of academic literature, cybersecurity policy documents, archival technological reviews, expert commentaries, institutional reports, and emerging case studies related to the development of quantum-resistant cryptography. The results show that quantum computing presents serious threats to existing public-key cryptographic systems, especially in terms of theoretical abilities of Shor’s algorithm and future quantum decryption models. Meanwhile, the paper outlines post-quantum cryptography as a vital avenue for safeguarding digital privacy, institutional credibility, and cybersecurity robustness in an ever more networked society. The analysis also points to ongoing challenges around technological readiness, regulatory uncertainty, global standardization, resource inequality and ethical issues around surveillance, privacy and digital sovereignty. Yet, the research points to the potential for secure digital transformation, resilient cybersecurity governance, and the re-inventing of future communication infrastructure through post-quantum innovation. The research finds that the transition to quantum-secure systems is not just a technological challenge, but a multidimensional governance and policy challenge requiring international cooperation, ethical foresight and proactive institutional change.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shaiq Ahmad Khan, Ahmad Sajjad, Wahab Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Artificial Intelligence-Based Learning Tools on Student Academic Creativity Among Grade 8 Students of Lahore
This paper addresses the effects of AI learning tools on Grade 8 students’ academic creativity in Lahore. The use of AI apps, Adaptive Learning, and Intelligent Tutoring Systems creates new opportunities for the enhancement of students’ learning and creativity in the classroom. The goal of this research was to determine the association between AI learning tools and academic creativity in terms of creative thinking, problem-solving, and the level of engagement of the students. The research followed a quantitative approach and used a survey design. The target population for this research was Grade 8 students in Lahore schools that use AI learning tools, and the sample for the study was 150 students, selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were gathered by a closed-ended questionnaire and analyzed using percentage, frequency distribution, mean scores, and correlation analysis. The results of the study indicated that there is a strong positive correlation between the use of AI learning tools and academic creativity of the students. The study found that creative thinking and problem-solving were the dominant factors, and the level of engagement of the students played an important role as well. The study determined that the use of AI learning tools helps to develop creative and analytical thinking of the students using the appropriate instructional frameworks. Some suggestions are given for teachers and educational policy practitioners on how to best use AI in education in middle schools.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rohma Azhar, Hafiza Sadia Hameed, Dr. Almas Shoaib (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Benchmarking Green Port Competitiveness: Mixed-Methods Evidence from PQA, KPT, and International Peers
This paper examines whether sustainability in ports should be interpreted as a cost burden or a source of competitive advantage, with particular emphasis on Port Qasim Authority (PQA) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT). Using a mixed-method desk-based research design, the study combines peer-reviewed literature published between 2017 and 2026 with official port authority publications, international institutional reports, and selected industry sources. The analysis integrates qualitative thematic synthesis with descriptive comparison of publicly available performance indicators, including throughput, container volumes, vessel traffic, disclosed investments, and reported sustainability initiatives. The findings show that sustainability is initially experienced by ports as compliance and capital cost, especially where investment is required in pollution control, effluent treatment, electrification, digital systems, or clean-fuel readiness. However, the evidence also shows that sustainability can enhance competitiveness when it reduces energy and delay costs, improves regulatory preparedness, strengthens stakeholder legitimacy, attracts cargo and investment, and supports resilient port-hinterland systems. International examples from Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Los Angeles, Singapore, and Tianjin Port demonstrate that ambitious decarbonisation and operational competitiveness are not mutually exclusive. For PQA and KPT, sustainability is best described as an emerging strategic capability. PQA’s climate-resilience framing, biodiversity platform, mangrove stewardship, and environmental infrastructure planning provide a credible base for green-port positioning. KPT’s solarisation, marine-pollution controls, planned wastewater treatment, and container-oriented operating base similarly indicate movement toward greener operations. Both ports can strengthen the commercial value of these initiatives through clearer public disclosure of emissions baselines, project payback, and outcome-linked key performance indicators.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shahid Ahmed, Syed Waqar Hasan Zaidi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparative Analysis of Cognitive Demands: Assessing Alignment between Student Learning Outcomes and End-of-Chapter Exercises in Grade 8 Science Textbooks
This research work presents a comparative analysis of cognitive demands, assessing alignment between Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and end-of-chapter exercises in Grade 8 Science textbooks. The objectives of this research were to discern and categorize the cognitive level of each Student Learning Outcome (SLO) that appear in the chosen Grade 8 Science textbooks according to the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy and to recognize the cognitive level of exercise questions at the end of chapters found in the chosen Grade 8 science textbook according to the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, and also to determine the extent of cognitive alignment between the SLOs and the exercise questions at the end of the chapters through a statistical measure while considering command words. This investigation utilized a quantitative descriptive content analysis design. According to the findings, 72% of SLOs comprised the Understanding level while 9% at the Applying level, 9% at the Creating level, 7% at the Analyzing level, and remaining 3% at the Remembering level. Fifty-seven percent of the exercise questions aligned with the SLOs cognitive levels, while 43% did not align. On the other hand, 68% of the Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) were based on remembering level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, while the remaining 32% of MCQs in targeted units were based on the Understanding level, indicating that the textbooks’ MCQs primarily focused on rote memorization. In conclusion, most of the SLOs targeted the Understanding level but majority of the exercise questions -namely MCQs and fill in the blanks (FIBs)- reflected the Remembering cognitive level. Therefore, study recommended that the cognitive level of textbook exercises should aligned with the cognitive levels of the target SLOs. This development should be carried out by Bureau of Curriculum (BOC) in collaboration with Balochistan assessment and Examination Commission (BAEC).
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Abdul Wahid Bazai, Rabia Kanwal (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Do Livelihood Capitals Improve Household Welfare? An Ordered Logistic Analysis of Textile Workers in Pakistan
In developing countries, household welfare of industrial workers is increasingly influenced by multidimensional constraints that are not limited to income such as health, quality of housing and availability of basic services. The textile industry in Pakistan is one of the largest providers of industrial jobs in the country, so it is critical to know how the resources available to workers in terms of livelihood are converted to welfare outcomes to inform evidence based social protection and labor policy. This paper considers how the sustainable livelihood capitals impact upon the household welfare status of textile worker families in Punjab in Pakistan. Based on the primary survey data of 410 textile workers, economic, health, and housing related indicators were used to create a multidimensional welfare index. To achieve increased robustness and less subjectivity, the weights of indicators were computed with a hybrid method that combines expert based subjective weights with entropy based objective weights. The resultant welfare index was made normalized and divided into three ordinal welfare groups: low (0.14-0.45), medium (0.45-0.60) and high (0.60-0.91). As explanatory variables, seven livelihood capital indices, i.e., human, natural, financial, physical, social, information, and psychological capital were determined. Ordered logistic regression model was estimated to determine the effects of change in each capital on the probability of being in higher welfare categories and marginal effects calculated to interpret the change in probability. The results demonstrate that upward welfare mobility is most closely related to financial and physical capital improvements, and human and natural capital also have a positive impact. Conversely, social and information resources demonstrate weaker or statistically unfounded relationships with higher welfare status, which indicates that not all types of capital produce similar welfare gains in industrial labor environments. The research emphasizes the significance of specific interventions to increase financial inclusion, stabilize linked benefits related to employment, and the housing and service conditions of workers. The findings provide policy-implication on how government and industry stakeholders can enhance welfare outcomes by designing livelihood-based policies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Anam Riaz, Rakhshanda Kousar, Asghar Ali, Javaria Nasir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of AI-Based E-Testing on Grade 8 Students’ Academic Achievement and Motivation: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities: A Qualitative Study
Educational practices are changing rapidly in AI especially in the area of evaluation and assessment. More and more educational institutes are using AI based testing. It provides automated assessment, adaptive learning help, immediate feedback, and personalized evaluation experiences. This study is qualitative in nature and it investigates the impact of AI based e-testing on academic motivation and achievement of 8th grade students. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities for these systems. The objective of this study is to understand students’ experiences with AI-supported e-testing environments and to investigate the effect of technologies on students’ learning outcomes and engagement in classrooms. The research will be based on a qualitative research design and will mainly use semi-structured interviews and student reflections as data collection methods. The target population is Grade 8 students who are regular users of AI-based e-testing systems within the school context. Data will be analysed thematically to identify key patterns, perceptions and experiences regarding the use of AI-based assessment practices. The findings should demonstrate that AI-based e-testing has the potential to enhance students’ motivation, engagement, self-confidence, and academic achievement via instant feedback, personalized learning, and interactive evaluation approaches. However, factors such as technical problems, dependence on the Internet, lack of digital literacy, distraction, and overdependence on AI technologies may affect the students’ learning experience. The results of this study can offer useful recommendations to teachers, school administrators and policy makers for the effective implementation of AI-based e-testing systems in support of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs).
Copyright (c) 2026 Mariam Riaz, Dr. Almas Shoaib (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Social Media Usage and Political Participation among Female Voters in Sukkur Division: The Moderating Role of Digital Literacy and Patriarchal Constraints
The main objective of the current paper is to explain how social media use is related to political engagement of female voters in Sukkur Division of the state of Sindh in particular with a complicative role given to digital literacy and the patriarchal restrictions. It is a quantitative and a cross-sectional study aimed at exploring any effects of platform engagement behaviour and socio-demographic factors on changing political behaviour (According to The Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT) and the Civic Voluntarism Model (CVM). The proposed hypotheses were tested with the help of ANOVA methods and moderated regression methods. These findings suggest that social media can prove to be quite fruitful in enhancing female political participation and involvement; however this was not the case across all media platforms; with Facebook registering higher political involvement and participation within this group compared to Instagram. They discovered that age, and education moderately affected this relationship, but these factors had an average explanatory power. In more detail, higher levels of literacy smoothed out the relationship between social media use and political participation, and strong patriarchal controls moderated relationship between social media use and political participation. Summing it up, this paper finds that although it is an enabling factor, social media is not a consistent motivating factor for political engagement.
Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Issani, Dr. Muhammad Qasim Nizamani, Dr. Farheen Qasim Nizamani, Dr. Mujeeb Ur Rehman Abro (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Natural Resource Rents-Environmental Degradation Nexus: Empirical Insights from Pakistan
The study aim was to inspect the nexus between natural resource rents (NRR) on environmental degradation (CO2) and used the data from 1976 to 2024 of Pakistan and ARDL procedures for estimation. The GDPpc, and FD have optimistic effects on CO2. Yet, the NRR, URBP and HK have negative and substantial effects on CO2 in the long run (LR). Moreover, in the short run (SR), the FD has optimistic and noteworthy effects on environmental degradation only. Furthermore, ECM value is negative and noteworthy, which shows that the speed of alteration from SR to LR by 52% and the LR cointegration. Moreover, there exists one way causality running from CO2 to GDPpc, CO2 to FD, NRR to URBP, FD to URBP, HK to FD, and HK to URBP, However, there is a Feedback causality between CO2 and URBP. Consequently, this study determined that the total natural resource rent meaningfully reduces the CO2 in LR while having no effect on CO2 in the short run. Based on the findings, this study indorsed that the government of Pakistan and all resource rich developing countries use natural resources rents efficiently for sustainable development and focus on renewable energy consumption to enhance production and increase economic growth. Furthermore, use the efficient way of natural resources for economic growth as well as reduce the CO2 emissions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hassan Mehmood, Dr. Muhammad Fayaz, Zia Ur Rehman, Aminullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The US–China Trade Conflict: From Economic Engagement to Geoeconomic Rivalry: A Theoretical and Historical Analysis
This paper offers a theoretical and historical perspective on the US–China trade war, suggesting that it has transformed from a typical trade war to a multidimensional geoeconomic and technological struggle. Based on the concepts of Hegemonic Stability Theory, Offensive Mercantilism and the perspective of Global Value Chains (GVCs), the study outlines how the emergence of China has threatened the liberal order led by the United States since the end of the Cold War, has opened the door to protectionism, strategic competition and the use of trade and technology as weapons. The historical analysis explains how the relationship between the US and China has changed from one of economic engagement (1990s–2017) to one of strategic competition, focusing on the process of China's accession to the WTO, the continuing trade imbalance, IP rights issues, and the “Made in China 2025” industrial plan. The article also covers the detail of the tariff and regulatory measures from 2018 to 2026, including the Phase One Agreement (2020), the “small yard, high fence” policy of the Biden administration (2021–2026), the renewed escalation during Trump's second term (2025), and the fragile Busan Accord (2025–2026). The results show this war to be a systemic change of paradigm from liberal interdependence to managed competition, with important consequences for global governance, supply chains and developing economies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Weiqi Lu, Muhammad Ghaffar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The Impact of Transport and Logistics Infrastructure on Foreign Economic Activity: A Quantitative Empirical Analysis
The method used in this study is empirical quantitative research which aims to scientifically examine the relationship between the development of transport and logistics infrastructure with foreign economic activity. The primary data was gathered using a structured questionnaire with 5-point Likert scale questions from 350 professionals in logistic, transport, customs, import/export and supply chain management in the industry. The conceptual model is based on four independent variables (transport infrastructure, logistics efficiency, customs procedures and trade facilitation, digital logistics technologies) and one dependent variable (foreign economic activity). The analysis of data was done with SPSS and descriptive statistics, reliability analysis (Cronbach Alpha), Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results show that the overall regression model is highly significant (R² = 0.628, F = 145.363, p < 0.001). Digital logistics technologies have the highest positive effect (β = 0.872, p < 0.001) followed by logistics efficiency (β = 0.125, p = 0.029). The customs procedure has a significant negative effect (β = –0.202, p = 0.006) and transport infrastructure does not show a significant effect (β = 0.019, p = 0.753). H2, H4 and H5 are accepted and H1 and H3 are rejected on the basis of hypothesis testing. The statistics make for solid empirical evidence on the importance of digital technologies and logistics efficiency as the two most important factors for foreign economic activity, and not least customs efficiency, still being a big challenge.
Copyright (c) 2026 Irtaza Nawaz, Shengjian Pang, Mehri Khasanovna Vokhidova, Shokhnoza Farkhodova https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Parenting Styles, Parental Involvement, and Family Environment on Child Behavior
The behavior of children is influenced by various environmental and societal factors with parenting behaviors, parental engagement and family setup being the major ones. The realization of the impact of these factors on the emotional, social and behavioral growth of children has been of more significance in the modern developmental and educational studies. In this paper, we look at how parenting styles, parental involvement and family environment influence the behavior of children based on current empirical research and theoretical models. Authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting styles have a great impact on the emotional regulation of children, social competence and the overall outcome in terms of behavior. In the same way, the parental participation in academic and social lives of children offers positive behavioral adaptation, motivation, and psychological well-being. Besides that, the extended family background such as communication pattern, emotional climate, socioeconomic status, and family relations is very instrumental in determining behavioral development in children. Positive behaviors are encouraged by a positive and supportive family environment, and dysfunctional family dynamics can result in aggression, anxiety and behavioral problems. The results indicate that authoritarian parenting, regular interactions with parents, and an optimum family climate play a crucial role in promoting positive behavioral results in children. It is argued in this study that facilitating the psychological well-being and social growth among children could be achieved by promoting good parenting habits and enhancing family relationships.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ghazala Ramzan, Muhammad Kamran https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Impact of Self-Esteem, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Anxiety on Social Relationships
One of the maximum simple elements of mental wellbeing and first-rate of lifestyles is the social relationships. The contemporary paper specializes in how shallowness, emotional intelligence (EI), and social tension have interaction in affecting the excellent and amount of social relationships of younger adults. The quantitative cross-sectional studies layout became used to acquire gathered records on a pattern of 320 college students (M age = 21.four years, SD = 2.31) and it became measured by using confirmed psychometric tools: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), and the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI). The SPSS v.26 and Hayes' PROCESS macro have been used to do more than one regression evaluation, Pearson correlation, and mediation evaluation. The effects confirmed that shallowness (beta =.41, p=.001) and emotional intelligence ( beta=.36, p=.001) had been crucial effective predictors of courting nice, with social tension ( beta= -.49, p=.001) being an vital bad one. The mediation evaluation confirmed that social tension partly mediated the correlation among shallowness and the exceptional of social relationships (oblique impact = -.18, 95% CI [-.27, -.09]). The powerful impact of social tension on dating delight turned into mediated through emotional intelligence. These consequences spotlight the decisive significance of intrapersonal mental variables in figuring out interpersonal outcomes and imply that interventions that concentrate on shallowness improvement, improvement of emotional skills, and reducing social tension may want to have a tremendous effect at the social lifestyles of younger adults. There are implications to counselors, educators and intellectual fitness practitioners.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shafaqat Rehman, Rukhsana Malik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0