International Journal of Social Science & Entrepreneurship
IJSSE is a peer-reviewed International journal of Social Science and Entrepreneurship with a key objective to provide the academic and industrial community a medium for presenting original high-quality research or extended version of previously published research related to (but not strictly limited to) its scope which covers the wider aspects of high-quality research. The Journal is presently recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan in the "Y" Category.
The U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Regional Security Dynamics: Implications for Pakistan and South-Central Asia
Since the Taliban returned to Afghanistan in August 2021 and the United States withdrew from the country, the security situation in the region of South and Central Asia has significantly changed. The political change saw an escalation in terrorism, refugee movements, trans-border crime and drug trafficking, as well as geopolitical rivalries in the region, creating new challenges for neighboring countries. This article discusses the U.S withdrawal’s implications for Pakistan, China, Iran and the Central Asian Republics (CARs) with a focus on the region of Pakistan. To gain insight into the impact of Afghanistan's domestic political dynamics on the security situation of its neighboring states. The results indicate that drug trafficking, refugee pressure, and cross-border terrorism has all increased in Pakistan. The possible growth of extremist organizations endangering Xinjiang and the safety of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects have been China's top concerns. The CARs have reinforced their borders in response to security threats from terrorism and regional instability, but Iran has had to address refugee flows, border tensions and a growing threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan (ISIS-K). The study results show that the withdrawal of the U.S. has created a regional security dilemma in Afghanistan, which requires greater cooperation with the neighboring countries. Enhancing counterterrorism cooperation, effective border management and continuing regional dialogue is essential for the promotion of long-term peace and stability in South and Central Asia.
Plagiarism among University Students: A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on plagiarism among university students, with a particular focus on students’ perceptions, the prevalence and forms of plagiarism, detection approaches, and the challenges associated with identifying and preventing academic misconduct. The review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the educational, technological, and institutional factors influencing plagiarism in higher education. A total of 30 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024 were systematically retrieved from Scopus, IEEE, and other major academic databases. The studies were selected through a rigorous screening and eligibility process in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The included studies were critically evaluated and qualitatively synthesized to identify recurring themes, patterns, and gaps in the existing literature on plagiarism among university students. The review demonstrates a persistent gap between students’ recognition of plagiarism as an unethical academic practice and their understanding of its diverse forms, including direct, paraphrased, self-, and AI-assisted plagiarism. The evidence indicates that plagiarism is primarily driven by academic pressure, limited academic writing proficiency, inadequate knowledge of citation and referencing conventions, time constraints, and insufficient institutional guidance. Although plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin and Grammarly have improved the identification of textual similarity and encouraged academic integrity, their effectiveness remains constrained by technological limitations, disciplinary differences, multilingual contexts, and the increasing sophistication of AI-assisted writing. These findings suggest that plagiarism should be viewed not only as an issue of academic dishonesty but also as a consequence of broader educational and institutional shortcomings. The review highlights the importance of adopting a comprehensive institutional approach to academic integrity by strengthening plagiarism awareness, enhancing academic writing and referencing instruction, implementing transparent and consistent academic integrity policies, and integrating context-sensitive detection technologies. Such measures can support ethical scholarship while reducing unintentional and deliberate plagiarism across diverse educational settings. This review offers an up-to-date synthesis of 30 empirical studies published between 2010 and 2024, providing a holistic perspective on plagiarism by integrating evidence on students’ perceptions, underlying causes, detection technologies, and institutional responses. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focus on detection methods or prevalence, this study combines educational, technological, and policy perspectives into a unified framework, identifies key research gaps, and offers evidence-based recommendations to guide future research and institutional practices in promoting academic integrity.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Business Decision-Making: A Case Study of Startups
This study examines how startups integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into strategic and operational decision-making, identifying both benefits and challenges. A qualitative case study approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 15 participants from five startups across HealthTech, FinTech, RetailTech, and EdTech, complemented by document analysis. Results reveal a staged AI adoption trajectory, beginning with a single high-impact use case before expanding into complex applications. AI enhanced forecasting, optimized operations, and supported rapid strategic pivots. However, high price of integration costs, lack of talent, and organizational resistance became a formidable impediment. Insights guide start-up founders, policymakers, and investors on how to approach AI adoption in phases, resource planning, and ecosystem support. This study is a rich qualitative study that bridges the research knowledge gap on the adoption of AI by startups by connecting theory to the actual practice of entrepreneurship. Keywords: , , , , ,
Copyright (c) 2026 Voyage Academic and Management Services (PVT.)
Teachers’ AI Competence and Student Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: Cognitive and Affective Perspectives
In the modern period of advanced technology, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into school education is an indispensable need of the hour, and, in this context, it is essential to assess the perceptions and readiness of teachers and students. This quantitative study explores teachers’ AI competence and students' attitudes toward AI in secondary schools in Quetta. Through stratified random sampling, 368 teachers and 394 students were selected to examine the effect of teachers' perceptions of AI on students’ cognitive attitudes toward AI in education and to determine whether teachers’ AI knowledge and skills predict students’ affective attitudes toward AI. Results indicate that when individual effects are considered, teachers' perceptions are a highly significant and positive predictor of students' academic attitudes, and as the quality of teachers' perceptions increases from the lower to the upper percentiles, students' academic scores increase in a perfectly linear pattern. Results further show that the teachers' AI knowledge and skills and students' affective behaviors are closely related; consequently, teachers' AI knowledge and skills are a very powerful and positive predictor of students' expressive behaviors. The study reveals a “Moderate but Uncertain” atmosphere regarding AI in Quetta's educational environment. An important aspect of the research is that, despite positive perceptions of AI, there was a lack of practical skills, indicating a clear gap between “knowing” and “doing”. The study concludes that overall, students' attitudes towards AI were encouraging, with the academic sector being the most positive, indicating that the new generation has accepted AI as a future need.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Strategic Decision-Making: A Case Study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most impactful technologies shaping business operations and strategy in various sectors. Large corporations have integrated AI into their decision-making processes quickly, whereas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are seeing how AI can boost organizational performance, maximize resource utilization, and increase competitiveness. However, and despite the increasing interest, there is little understanding of the perception and use of AI by SME managers in their strategic business decisions. The study examines the role of AI in strategic decision making of SMEs using a qualitative case study methodology. The study involved 12 SME owners and high-level managers who had implemented AI tools in their companies, utilizing semi-structured interviews. Collected data was analyzed by thematic analysis, to find the commonalities and patterns around AI adoption, decision quality, organizational efficiency, and challenges in implementation. These results suggest that AI plays a crucial role in enhancing the speed and precision of strategic decisions, offering real-time data analysis, market insights, and predictive features. Participants also said they felt they better understood their customers, their operations were more efficient and they had greater confidence in long-term planning. But there are significant challenges to successful adoption, including implementation expense, employee skill level, data privacy, and overreliance on automated recommendations. The study concludes that AI is not a solution that will replace human judgment but rather a tool that can be used to inform decision-making. The results are part of a larger body of research on the implementation of AI in SMEs and offer practical insights and recommendations for business owners, policymakers, and technology providers aiming to speed up the digital transformation of smaller businesses.
A Systematic Review of Augmented Reality Adoption in Libraries: Benefits, Barriers, And User Engagement
Augmented Reality (AR) has emerged as a transformative technology with significant potential to enhance user engagement, information access, and learning experiences in contemporary library environments. This systematic review critically examines the application of AR in libraries, focusing on its functional uses, educational value, implementation challenges, and user perceptions. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across five major academic databases and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2024. After a rigorous screening and eligibility assessment process, 26 peer-reviewed studies were included in the final analysis. The findings reveal that AR is predominantly employed to facilitate library navigation, resource discovery, user orientation, and interactive learning experiences. Evidence across the reviewed studies suggests that AR applications substantially enhance user engagement by integrating digital content with physical library spaces, thereby fostering immersive and participatory learning environments. Notable implementations, including ShelvAR and ARLib, demonstrate the effectiveness of AR in improving access to collections, supporting wayfinding, and enriching instructional activities. Furthermore, AR-enabled services contribute to increased user motivation, information retention, and experiential learning, particularly within academic and makerspace contexts.Despite these benefits, the review identifies persistent barriers to adoption, including financial constraints, technological infrastructure requirements, limited staff competencies, and the ongoing need for content development and maintenance. Concerns regarding privacy, accessibility, and the long-term sustainability of AR initiatives also remain significant challenges. The synthesis of current evidence indicates that while AR offers substantial opportunities for advancing libraries as interactive, user-centered knowledge environments, its successful integration requires strategic planning, institutional investment, and continuous professional development. This review contributes to the growing body of library and information science literature by providing a consolidated evidence base on AR implementation and by identifying critical factors that influence its effectiveness and sustainability. It offers practical guidance for library administrators, educators, and policymakers seeking to develop innovative AR-enabled services while highlighting directions for future research on learning outcomes, user satisfaction, accessibility, and inclusive design.
A User Gratification Theory Approach to Social Media Marketing: The Impact of Brand Engagement and Awareness on Purchase Intention
The use of social media has become a part of our lives. As technology is becoming more sophisticated, individuals are spending more time on social media to achieve various objectives. Digital age social media is one of the vital areas that define the behavior of customers and has become an important element of marketing. As the volume of consumers soars dramatically, marketers are moving into social media networking sites to be creative in establishing their brand in social media and reach more people through social media. Through the User Gratification Theory that states that people use social media to fulfill their needs and wants, this paper will explore the direct correlation between social media marketing and consumer purchase intent and effects of brand awareness and brand engagement as mediators. In this Study, to realise this end, the research paper applies deductive reasoning through a quantitative research design. It is gathered using an online questionnaire in the form of an e-questionnaire, with the help of a Likert scale, from a sample of Pakistani social media users across various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and others. With the objective of a cross-section of time, a non-probability (non-random) convenience sampling design was utilized in which 473 Pakistani individuals were surveyed. The data that were collected were then analyzed using SmartPLS (Partial Least Squares). This paper proposes that social media marketing has a positive impact on consumer purchase intention, and brand awareness is the most significant mediator of this association. Although the impact of brand engagement was somewhat smaller, the research still shows that social media marketing is a vital element in attracting the target audience and influencing the decision to make a purchase.
Determinants of Financial Self-Efficacy among Working Adults in Pakistan: Examining the Predictive Role of Financial Behavior, Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills
This research explored the role of Financial Behavior, Financial Knowledge, Financial Attitude, and Financial Skills in contributing to the variance in Financial Self-Efficacy. Specifically, it concentrated on adults who are between 25 and 55 years old and work for nonprofit organizations operating in the development sector of Pakistan. For this purpose, the theories of Social Cognitive Theory by Bandura, Economic Importance of Financial Literacy Theory, and Behavioral Finance Theory were applied. A correlational prediction approach was used as part of the research methodology. The sample size was composed of 397 valid participants residing in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar cities. The measurement tools that were used for collecting data were the Financial Literacy Questionnaire (FLQ), Revised Financial Management Behavior Scale (FMBS), and Financial Self-Efficacy Scale (FSES). The combined model significantly explained 31.4% of the variance in Financial Self-Efficacy [F(4, 392) = 44.857, p < .001, R² = .314]. Individually, Financial Behavior (β = .418, p < .001) and Financial Skills (β = .148, p = .007) emerged as significant predictors, whereas Financial Knowledge (β = .042, p = .412) and Financial Attitude (β = .058, p = .194) did not reach statistical significance. These findings imply that intervention strategies focusing on practice rather than knowledge alone might prove to be more successful in building financial confidence among working adults in Pakistan. This study is an addition to the indigenous financial literacy literature and provides recommendations to the State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, and the development sector.
Talent Management Practices and Turnover Intention: The Mediating Role of Employee Attributions and the Moderating Role of Digital Technology Adoption
Talent management (TM) has emerged as a major strategic concern for organisations aiming to maintain competitive advantage and minimise employee turnover in the modern era of the knowledge-based economy. The current study examines the influence of TM practices on turnover intention in the IT sector of Pakistan, with employee attributions towards TM as a mediating variable and adoption of digital technology as a moderating variable. The study is based on Social Exchange Theory and attribution theory; it has a quantitative and cross-sectional design, with the data of 392 IT professionals being analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that effective TM practices can significantly lower turnover intention, and that employee attributions play a partial role in determining the behavioural outcomes in TM practices. Moreover, the use of digital technology also plays a significant role in the moderation of the correlation between TM practices and turnover intention, indicating that the use of technological elements alone will not necessarily lead to an increase in the effectiveness of TM strategies. The article is also added to the literature on strategic human resource management by incorporating attribution-based explanations into the literature on talent management, and provides practical implications to organisations that wish to enhance their employee retention process through the use of perception-based and staff-centred talent management strategies. Further, results imply that talent turnover can be significantly reduced by maintaining transparency, consistency, effective communication, and fairness to create positive employee attributions towards TM practices. Keywords: , , , ,
Impact of Rooftop Solar Adoption on Employee Performance in Businesses: The Mediating Role of Workplace Sustainability in Pakistan
Persistent electricity shortages and rapidly rising energy costs have pushed businesses across Pakistan toward rooftop solar photovoltaic systems as a practical alternative to the national grid. While the economic and environmental merits of this transition have received considerable scholarly attention, its implications for employee-level outcomes remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the impact of rooftop solar adoption on employee performance, with workplace sustainability examined as a mediating variable in this relationship. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory, it is argued that organizational investment in renewable energy infrastructure enhances workplace conditions and signals an institutional commitment to sustainability, which employees reciprocate through improved motivation, efficiency, and job satisfaction. A quantitative research design was employed, with primary data gathered from 200 employees working in solar-equipped businesses across major Pakistani cities via a structured, five-point Likert-scale questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, incorporating reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression-based mediation following Baron and Kenny's procedure. The findings confirm that rooftop solar adoption positively and significantly predicts employee performance (β = .671, p < .001) and that workplace sustainability partially mediates this relationship (R² = .612). All four proposed hypotheses were supported. The study recommends that organizations treat solar adoption as a strategic human capital investment rather than a mere cost-reduction measure, and that policymakers introduce targeted incentives to accelerate uptake among small and medium enterprises. These findings extend the literature on renewable energy, organizational behavior, and sustainable workplaces in the context of energy-constrained developing economies.
Strategic Typologies and Resource Efficiency: Implications for Sustainable Performance
This research investigates the impact of different strategic types on sustainable performance by considering the role of resource efficiency. The study utilizes Miles and Snow's strategic classifications and resource management theory. It analyze 330 non-financial companies listed on the PSX between 2010 and 2025 using panel data techniques. The results indicate that companies adopting prospector and analyzer strategies tend to have positive effects on sustainable performance across all metrics. In contrast, the defender strategy shows somewhat weaker but still beneficial impacts. On the contrary, companies following a reactor strategy tend to achieve lower performance outcomes. The analysis also reveals that available and potential resources play a role in translating the benefits of proactive and hybrid strategies into sustainable performance. In contrast, recoverable resources indicate inefficiency and reduce value creation. In conclusion, the findings suggest that strategic choices alone are insufficient; achieving better performance hinges on how effectively companies manage their internal resources. This study adds to the field of strategic management by breaking down surplus resources and illustrating their unique intermediary functions in an emerging market setting. It also offers practical insights for managers aiming to enhance profitability and market value through coherent strategic planning and efficient resource utilization.
Urban-rural inequalities in under-five child mortality in Pakistan: Evidence from the Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey (PMMS)
Under-five child mortality remains a critical public health challenge in Pakistan, with persistent disparities between urban and rural populations. This study examines the magnitude and determinants of urban–rural inequalities in child mortality using data from the Pakistan Maternal Mortality Survey 2019. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, analyzing 89,155 live birth records through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. The findings reveal that rural children experience significantly higher mortality rates compared to urban children. However, multivariate analysis shows that this disparity is largely explained by socioeconomic and environmental factors rather than residence alone. Household wealth emerges as the strongest predictor, with higher wealth significantly reducing the risk of child mortality. Access to improved sanitation also demonstrates a protective effect, while the influence of rural residence becomes statistically insignificant after controlling these variables. Additionally, substantial regional variations in mortality patterns highlight the uneven distribution of health outcomes across provinces. The study concludes that socioeconomic inequality and inadequate household infrastructure are the primary drivers of child mortality disparities in Pakistan. Addressing these structural determinants through targeted policy interventions is essential for reducing mortality rates and achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets related to child health.
Reforming Quality Assurance Mechanisms in Higher Education in the UAE: A Strategic Framework for Institutional Improvement
The present study reforming quality assurance (RQA) processes to improve the performance of institutions of higher learning (HEI) within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the procedures of developing a strategic framework to improve. Based on the quantitative data of 320 students pursuing different courses in different universities, the study evaluates how the quality of teaching, student support services and learning resources and employability-oriented education effects the overall student satisfaction. The result shows that the quality of teaching is the most crucial element of student satisfaction, with a strong focus being put on pedagogical excellence in institutional credibility and learning outcomes. Employability-oriented education came out as a good predictor of the perceived institutional value, which is in line with the vision of the UAE in building a knowledge-based and innovative economy. On the other hand, there were significant disparities in the support programs being offered to the students and this indicates that there is a need to ensure fair and equal availability of counseling, mentorship and academic advising services. The research also states that variations of discipline need more adaptable and context-relevant types of QA models than a centralized, universal standard. These observations highlight the need to have a balanced system that is well balanced between centralized compliance and Commission of Academy Accreditation (CAA) and decentralized and program level innovations. The research consists of the conclusion that a long-term sustainable enhancement of QA practices requires maintaining a feedback loop, educating faculty, basing decisions on data and involving stakeholders. It has been recommendable to increase faculty capacity building, formalize digital feedback system, reinstate student support systems and embed employability and career readiness into the curricula. The framework is expected to create the culture of a continuous improvement and accountability to make sure that the changes are in line with such national priorities as the UAE Vision 2031 and the National Strategy to Higher Education 2030. These studies in general offer a strategic roadmap that can be followed by the UAE universities to realize excellence using responsive, evidence based and innovation-oriented quality assurance systems. Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Advisor Academics and Research SIRES, Islamabad
National Quality Assurance Frameworks and Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions in UAE: Balancing Regulation and Innovation
The relationship between the National Quality Assurance Frameworks (NQAF) and autonomy of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE is investigated in the study and their impact on the innovation of the institution is discussed. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied to gather data on 537 academic and administrative leaders in both the public and private universities in the UAE using a structured questionnaire. The researchers quantified four main constructs, including NQAF effectiveness, institutional autonomous, strategic leadership and innovation capacity. Descriptive statistics showed that NQAF is perceived to be as moderately effective (Mean = 3.62) and the institutional autonomy is limited (Mean = 2.95), whereas the strategic leadership and the innovation capacity are evaluated positively (Mean = 3.48 and 3.27, respectively). The correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a strong positive relationship between the aspects of autonomy and innovation (r = 0.525) and moderate association between aspects of leadership and innovation (r = 0.448) although the relationship between NQAF and innovation was weak (r = 0.098). The findings of multiple regression affirmed that institutional autonomy is the most predictive factor of innovation and strategic leadership has a significant moderating effect in the predictive relationship. NQAF offers an indirect but supportive role in the promotion of innovation. These results suggest that regulation should be complemented with autonomy, but also that it is of paramount importance to integrate visionary leadership so that the freedom of institutions could be turned into innovative results. Policy implications imply that UAE HEIs can be prepared to become more innovative, in terms of differentiated autonomy, quality assurance through outcome-based and leadership development programs.
Impact of Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Healthcare Organizations in Pakistan
Employee satisfaction has become a determining factor of organizational effectiveness especially in the healthcare context where it is the workforce that directly impacts patient outcomes. This research project examines how Human Resource Management (HRM) practices, namely, compensation, leadership, and training, relate to employee satisfaction in both, public and private, healthcare institutions in Pakistan. Quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted and 50 healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) working in tertiary hospitals in Karachi were used as primary data collection instruments. The data were analyzed by means of SPSS (Version 23), which included descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation, and multiple regression modeling and allowed to determine relationships between variables. The results demonstrate that all three HRM practices substantially affect the level of employee satisfaction with compensation being the most significant predictor ( 0.41, p < 0.01), and then leadership ( 0.35, p < 0.01), and training ( 0.29, p < 0.05). The regression model had a high explanatory power as it accounted 62% of variance in employee satisfaction. Surprisingly, there was no statistically significant difference between the employees of the public and the private sector (p > 0.05), which implies that the structure of the sector is similar between the two sectors. The research will add value to the existing literature in the field of HRM because it will provide empirical data in a developing country setting and the significance of HR strategic interventions in healthcare organizations. It offers practical information to policymakers and hospital administrators to improve workforce satisfaction and retention by implementing the best HR practices.
The Effectiveness of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997 in Addressing Industrial Pollution: A Critical Analysis of Implementation and Enforcement Challenges
The research assesses how well the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997 manages industrial pollution through critical evaluation and analysis of its application to provide insight into the current state of PEPA's environmental governance capacity. To accomplish this goal, the analysis incorporates a doctrinal-analytical approach based on statutory interpretation, case law and judicial precedent as well as the analysis of empirical evidence from government reports and peer-reviewed journal articles. The study examines key provisions of PEPA relevant to the controls on industrial pollution and the implementation of those provisions as evidenced by related case law and institutional performance measures; it also situates Pakistan's experience within the broader international environmental law literature. The results indicate that there exists a significant gap between what is crystalised in the PEPA as a regulatory framework and what is actually happening with regard to the PEPA's effectiveness, due largely to institutional inadequacy, economic constraints, political instability, low public awareness, and the devolutionary impact of the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment. As such, the paper provides targeted policy recommendations to address the above-listed impediments to improving PEPA's implementation, as it relates to the enforcement of PEPA, inter-institutional coordination, and enhancing environmental constitutionalism through the newly adopted Article 9A. This study provides further evidence for expanding the emerging body of literature that examines issues related to environmental governance in developing nations, especially as they relate to South Asian jurisdictions dealing with the difficulties created by balancing industrialization with ecological sustainability.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997
Effective Utilization of Human Resource Management Practices to Increase Employee Productivity
In an increasingly competitive global business environment, organizations rely heavily on effective human resource management (HRM) practices to enhance employee productivity and sustain performance. This study examines the impact of key HRM practices—recruitment and selection, training and development, and reward and recognition—on employee productivity within the banking sector of Pakistan. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected from 101 employees using a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis using SPSS revealed a significant positive relationship between HRM practices and employee productivity, with reward and recognition showing the strongest influence. The findings are supported by theoretical perspectives such as the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity (AMO) framework. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing economy and offers practical implications for HR professionals to design strategic HR systems aligned with organizational goals.
Rule of Law and Separation of Powers: A Comparative Analysis of Dicey and Montesquieu
The rule of law and the separation of powers are two fundamental principles of modern constitutionalism that have been influenced by the political thought of A.V. Dicey and Montesquieu. Dicey, a British jurist, emphasized the equality of all individuals before the law and the primacy of the law above arbitrary administrative authority. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government should be independent, according to French philosopher Montesquieu. The purpose of this essay is to examine the ways in which Dicey and Montesquieu influenced Western political systems, particularly those in the US, France, and the UK. It will also look at the shortcomings and difficulties of their theories in light of the development of human rights, judicial review, and the modern administrative state. The paper will argue that while Dicey and Montesquieu provided valuable insights into the nature and function of constitutional government, their ideas need to be adapted and updated to reflect the changing realities and demands of modern democracy.
Teachers' Use of Information and Communication Technology and Its Impact on Students' Academic Performance in Private Secondary Schools
Present study examines the relationship between the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by teachers, engagement of students and their academic performance in the schools of the state of the privatization. The proposed research is based on the social learning theory and investigates the role of ICT integration in student outcomes and the mediation role of student engagement. The research design adopted was the quantitative correlational and 70 teachers in five Karachi based schools (private secondary schools) were used to collect the data with the help of structured questionnaire. The SPSS was used to analyze the data with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, regression, and mediation analysis. The results found that the application of ICT by teachers is positively associated with student engagement and academic achievement in a significant way. In addition, it was also discovered that student involvement was strong with a significant impact on academic performance. There was mediation analysis that showed that student engagement acts as a complete mediator in ICT use and academic performance, indicating that ICT improves academic performance mainly through active student engagement. The research indicates the significance of the pedagogically meaningful ICT integration and the necessity of teacher training and institutional support that would improve student engagement and learning outcomes. These results are added to the existing literature on educational technology as they present context related evidence of Pakistan-based private secondary schools.
Barriers Teachers Face in Implementing Inclusive Practices in Their Classrooms in Mountainous Region of Pakistan
The geographical location of Gilgit Baltistan makes it difficult to reach. Prevalence of disability in Gilgit-Baltistan surpasses national averages, yet the educational architecture remains un-inclusive. Disabled people face challenges in leading a life of dignity. In recent times, Inclusive Education has emerged, not just a concept or a policy, but a fundamental human right. The study aims to identify barriers teachers face in implementing inclusive practices in their classrooms. Cultural values sometimes prevent families from reporting impairments. Physical infrastructure like ramps, accessible latrines, and transport systems are lacking or absent most times. The study combined in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and classroom observations. The sample consisted of 20 teachers, 10 parents, and 20 schools, selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to ensure relevance and depth. Thematic analysis was used to make sense of complexity. From the fieldwork, four major categories of barriers emerged: physical and infrastructural barriers, social and cultural barriers, teacher training and capacity gaps, and policy and resource limitations. Each of these barriers interacts with the others, creating a cycle of exclusion that many children cannot escape. Four major areas of challenge teachers face emerged: Lack of Training and Preparedness, Managing Overcrowded and Diverse Classrooms, Limited Resources and Institutional Support, and Emotional Burdens, Burnout, and Resilience. Despite these challenges, some teachers demonstrated extraordinary creativity and commitment, finding small but meaningful ways to include children with disabilities. Three notable practices emerged: peer assisted learning, visual and hands on methods, personalized attention. Insights emerged from the study that teachers have high willingness and low preparedness. Second, systemic neglect amplifies challenges, and third, teachers hold transformative power, despite structural barriers, many take extraordinary steps to adapt their teaching and advocate for students. The study recommends schools build/retrofit ramps, railings, and accessible toilets using local low-cost materials and labor. Simple pedagogy and inclusion of visual/tactile scaffolds ensured in every lesson, and short cycles of practice-based training with follow-up coaching to be ensured for teachers. Need for ongoing training is explicit in findings. Future research should examine integrated sets of solutions instead of individual interventions.
Pakistan’s Ordeal at the Hands of the International Media
This study aims to examine the disinformation and negative propaganda warfare waged by adversary states against Pakistan and ascertain whether the warfare was impactful. In this warfare, the media is used to build narratives against Pakistan, portraying it as a promoter of terrorism, an unsafe nuclear arsenal holder, a possessor of a rogue army, etc. The purpose is to shape the Pakistani public’s opinion and international perception and, as a result, government policy in their favor. This study approached the problem through the agenda setting theory lens based on a seminal study by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw (1972), one of the most valuable tools for investigating the influence of the mass media on public thinking and attitude. Interpretivism was the research paradigm adopted for this study, with a basic commitment to ontological relativism and epistemological subjectivism. Although this study was mainly involved in inductive reasoning, like most qualitative studies, it partly has a validating character. A purposive sampling method was adopted to recruit participants identified through snowballing. Based on guidance from the relevant literature for predominantly phenomenological studies, this research comprised a sample size of 15 interviewees with diverse backgrounds, comprising media academicians and journalists with international affairs backgrounds and defense analysts to complement the data from various aspects of the disinformation phenomenon. Based on five research questions, in-depth phenomenological interviewing was employed to collect data in line with this study's ontological stance and epistemological beliefs. The Thematic Analysis Method was used for data integration and analysis. Employing this method, 78 codes were identified from the interview data. These codes were segregated into 24 nodes and 18 child nodes based on similarity. The nodes were later clubbed into 5 themes. NVivo version 12 was used to compile the data graphically and assign it to visual presentations. This study identified eight potential impacts that disinformation recipients could have developed. Four of these potential impacts did not happen because of the significant moderators. The remaining four impacts were diluted to varying extents proportionate to the moderators’ significance.
The Role of AI in Ethical Leadership and Lifelong Learning Initiatives
This research examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve ethical leadership and lifelong learning programs in organizations. Data was collected using a convergent mixed-method design by carrying out 20 semi-structured interviews, three focus groups, and 200 survey participants in corporate, educational and governmental institutions that utilize AI in leadership development. Thematic analysis was employed in the analysis of qualitative data and the survey data were discussed statistically to determine the impact of AI on ethical decision-making, transparency, and lifelong learning. The evidence indicates that AI can enhance the ability of leaders to make transparent, accountable, and responsible decisions and provide personalized and adaptive learning paths to support ongoing professional development. Algorithms, less human discretion, and the lack of trust in AI results were recognized as the ethical issues by the participants. The study also builds on the theory by harmonizing AI, ethical leadership, and lifelong learning into one framework and provides a practical recommendation to organizations aiming to adopt AI in a responsible manner. These lessons provide the promise of AI in advancing inclusive, ethical, and adaptive leadership and the necessity to govern, be transparent, and be AI literate.
Copyright (c) 2025 Voyage Academic and Management Services (PVT.)
Social Construction of Disaster Risk and Preparedness: Institutional Narratives from Sindh
Traditionally, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and preparedness planning in Pakistan has been viewed through technocratic and hazard-oriented structures giving precedence to planning tools, response systems and infrastructural remedies. Although these methods are necessary, they do not pay much attention to the social and institutional mechanisms according to which the disaster risk and preparedness are perceived and regulated. This paper considers disaster risk and preparedness as socially constructed phenomena through the lenses of the institutional discourses that have been generated by the disaster management authorities in Sindh and one of the most disaster-prone provinces in Pakistan. The study is based on a qualitative, interpretivist research design and uses semi-structured interviews with disaster management officials, the analysis of disaster management plans, standard operating procedures, and policy documents, and a limited number of focus group discussions to provide the contexts of triangulation. Thematic and narrative analysis were also applied as the means of analysing the data in order to determine the prevailing patterns of meaning-making in institutional discourse. The results indicate that there are four interconnected institutional discourses that influence preparedness to disasters in Sindh. To start with, the catastrophes are depicted as extraordinary and externally imposed natural processes, which supports the sense of inescapability. Second, preparedness is mostly created in the form of documentation and procedural adherence which leads to symbolic rather than functional preparedness. Third, communities are placed mainly as passive beneficiaries, restricting the acknowledgment of the local knowledge and adaptive capacities. Lastly, the blame on the disaster risk is often transferred to climate change, geography, or population behaviour, which further depoliticises the governance of disaster and contributes to accountability spreading. Connecting the results to the social constructionist theory and the literature on disaster governance, the research shows that the failures in preparedness cannot be explained only by the factors that could be defined as technical or capacity-related but need to be considered as the results of the institutional discourse and power dynamics. The research has the potential to add to disaster literature by expanding the social constructionist approach to investigating the sub-national governance of DRR in a Global South setting, and it provides policy-implicated implications in terms of the shift towards less symbolic preparedness and more reflexive, inclusive, and functional approaches to disaster risk reduction.
Roadmap to Sustainable Cities: Embedding the Synergy of Sustainable Project Management and Renewable Energy Approaches
Although having lot of potential for renewable energy in various developing countries, still there are number of cities seemed majorly dependent on the various fossil fuels. This practice of being dependent on fossil fuel usually leads them to be more exposed to the climate challenges. This study is aimed to observe the integration of the Sustainable Practices in the conventional Project Management for bringing better governance and project delivery approach. The study focuses on the case of Karachi with some global comparisons of certain cities where the best practices have been adopted. For the purpose, the informed theoretical framework known for sustainable approaches was adopted for this study. These were the theories of Triple Bottom Line, Inclusive Stakeholder, Institutional Theory backed with the academic and professional PMI-GPM P5 standard and PRiSM methodology. Moreover, it is further grounded in a Qualitative study of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, widely accepted sustainability indexes of authentic sources, longitudinal data on the energy, and emissions trajectory of the Karachi as the Developing City. Results of the study reflect that the inadequate institutional coordination with fragmented governance, lack of stakeholder cohesion and inconsistent compliance of the policies at various levels are the precursors greatly contributing to insufficient adaptability of the renewable energy. Renewable contribution demonstrates just 5% out of total urban energy mix of Karachi. Looking at the ARCADIS index and relevant literature, a global comparison was also made to lighten up the understanding on integrated sustainable methods.The study provides the basic sense of direction for urban planners, project managers and especially for policymakers aiming for sustainable urban development with broader climate goals. Further, the findings support the targets of UN-SDG 11 referring Sustainable Cities and Communities leading to bring a sustainable impact.
Environmental Cost of Economic Development, Trade Openness, And FDI: Empirical Evidence from BRICS Economies
The balance between economic and ecological well-being has become one of the primary concerns of the governments in the world. The need to achieve sustainable growth is emphasized in the contemporary world economies and especially those that are underdeveloped. This paper investigates the dynamic impacts of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), economic growth (EG), the consumption of renewable energy (RE) and trade openness (TO) on the environmental degradation (CO2 emissions) in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). The analysis that will be conducted utilizes annual panel data covering the years 1995 to 2023 to implement the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) methodology to analyse the short and long-term correlation. We are all paying the opportunity cost of economic development by accelerated environmental degradation all over the world. In order to curb the devastating realities of climate change and save nature, countries need to reshape their energy usage policies through renewable energy technologies and research, thus creating sustainable development in the world. The findings show that economic growth has a significant positive impact on the increase in CO2 emissions in the long-run and the use of renewable energy has significant positive impact on the reduction of the CO2 emissions in short and long-term. The effect of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is dynamic, increasing emissions over the short term and decreasing them significantly over time, therefore, supporting the Pollution Halo Hypothesis in the long term. The openness to trade showed a statistically significant yet insignificant positive impact on the long-term emissions. These findings bring about the need to develop renewable energy and wisely utilize foreign direct investment coupled with green growth strategies to reduce environmental degradation as well as develop the economy of the BRICS countries.
The Effectiveness of Technology-Enhanced Learning Tools, Including Virtual Labs and AI-Powered Platforms, in Improving STEM Education Outcomes Among Secondary School Students
of virtual laboratories and AI-guided platforms) can be used to improve the results of vocational training among students of secondary school concerning STEM education. The research design was a quasi experimental study which took three hundred forty students as experimental and control bands that were measured in terms of conceptual-understanding, problem asolving, retention, engagement, and teacher perceptions. Findings of quantitative analysis indicated high science and mathematics gain by the students who learned with the use of TEL tools as compared to their counterparts who were taught with the help of using typical methods and the effects size was very Denser with an approximation of 20 percent higher with their counterparts and retention of the students was high as well. The results of learning analytics were positive renders between the use of the platform and performance, and qualitative results were found when the drive to engage in learning, collaborate, and ask questions is more prevalent in the TEL classes. Teachers understood the pedagogical value of the tools, but they emphasized that it would be possible to achieve their adequate use only with the assistance of the professional development and support on a systemic level. The key point that the authors conclude is that virtual laboratory and artificial intelligence platforms can provide a scalable and affordable and pedagogically viable choice to STEM education, yet such issues as diversity, access, and teacher bandwidth need to be managed accordingly.
Determinants of food waste at household level in Punjab Pakistan
Food waste indicates a significant threat to the economy the environment and food security. Food waste is one of the most pressing sustainability concerns that need to be addressed. Consumer behavior patterns that contribute to food waste at household level had been observed in Pakistan. In order to prevent food waste at the regional and global levels, it is imperative to identify the causes of food. The goal of the current study was identified and analyzed the determinants of food waste at household levels and suggests recommendations to decrease food waste in households. For this purpose, the data was collected from 200 consumers through a convenience sampling technique using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was collected through a convenience sampling technique. Logit regression model was used to analyze the data. Identification of food waste determinants is very helpful to optimize operations, minimize losses, and improve profitability. The study found gap between perceptions and practices. Despite awareness and negative perceptions of food waste, actual waste levels were influenced by practical constraints such as storage facilities, Taste, and product appearance. The study findings indicate that taste, food stock waste, left over waste, un appealing texture, over quantity production waste, educational effect, awareness regarding food waste, expiry date, product appearance, nutritional value, overcooked waste all these variables led to increase the food waste at household level. Only brand reputation negatively affects the food waste behavior of the respondents. The findings provide a solid foundation for developing targeted policies and interventions aimed at reducing household food waste. By understanding the determinants, policy makers can create specific strategies to address each factor, such as educational campaigns on food storage, policies encouraging portion control, and community programs promoting the use of leftovers.
Leadership for Sustainability: Examining the Role of Green Transformational Leadership in Fostering Employee Adaptability and Performance
Lime-transformational headship has gained more significance due to the growing use of sustainability-based processes in officialdoms and educational companies. Powerful individuals that advance ecological responsibility and support ecological ethics are actively involved in turning staff flexibility and ecological efficiency. Two hypotheses were formulated: to investigate how Lime-transformational headship influence the staff flexibility and performance within higher education companies. The study was conducted using a validated questionnaire as quantitative cross-sectional research. Multistage sampling was applied to obtain data among faculty and administrative personnel employed in Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistan, in HEC-recognized private and public universities. A total of 416 respondents were used to collect the data. Data analysis was conducted with the SPSS version 26 and SmartPLS 4. The results revealed that Lime- transformational headship has a wide scope of improving staff adaptive performance and ecological performance. When staff under headship develop good ecological commitment, vision and support, they will be better positioned to adjust to structural requirements and better placed to practice sustainable work. Lime-transformational direction is a real approach to ensuring sustainability and streamlining employee activity in the higher education companies. The toleration of this headship style may help the development of institutions, Lime work environment, and greater staff flexibility. Institutional leaders and officials are motivated to incorporate sustainable headship in order to be able to optimize productivity and environmental responsibility.
A Quantitative Study on the Relationship between Workload and Workstation of Secondary School Teachers in Rahim Yar Khan
This study surveyed the relationship between workload and workstations of secondary school teachers in the district of Rahim Yar Khan. The research objectives were to evaluate the nature and level of workloads undertaken by secondary school teachers, examine how teachers’ physical and mental health are affected by their workloads, and analyze their emotional well-being. A questionnaire was used as a research tool for this investigation. The study sample consisted of 575 teachers. The simple random sampling method was applied for data collection, and SPSS analyzed the data. Frequencies, means, and percentages were also evaluated. The majority of the respondents (81.2%) agreed that managing a large number of students is overwhelming, and they don’t have enough time for individual attention to the students. The findings revealed that teachers face various difficulties, which indirectly impact their performance, mental, physical, and emotional health, and work-life balance. The following suggestions were made based on the outcomes: it is essential to reduce the workload, strengthen administrative support, and utilize resources more wisely to promote teacher effectiveness and well-being. The current study is helpful for school administration and educational authorities to make policies and manage the workload and workstations of the teachers.
Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM Education: Analyzing the Role of Mentorship, Curriculum Design, and Policy Interventions in Encouraging Female Participation
Under-representation of women science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is a contemporary phenomenon of great concerns in every part of the globe despite the availability and subsequent acquisition of education. The paper goes further to elaborate how the gender gap in learning STEM can be bridged through mentorship, curriculum and policy interventions. With the data of other world systems, policy conversation, the discoveries told that girls tend to remain longer and construct their identity via organized mentorship programmes as opposed to bold curriculum models, particularly project based, practical application models that make girls more fascinated with, excel high in the school institution and more determined. Examples of gain of participation have been illustrated by giving benefits under participation learning through structural accountability in Title IX in the United States, Athena SWAN in the United Kingdom and Horizon 2020 in Europe, though it is found to have variable under different disciplines with engineering and computer science showing the most significant gaps. In addition to that, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the discrepancies, which correlate much with the fact that the proportion of women graduate among students was rising significantly in low middle-income and developing nations. The outcomes underline that the gains in the field of the eradication of the gender gap must be brought about by the multi-level strategies utilizing psychosocial supports, education reform, and responsibility concerning the policy. In so doing, there will be no guarantee that they are not just recruited to do STEM but also counseled and enabled to persevere and conquer the key domains.