Pakistan’s women educational attainment has been the lowest in the entire South Asia; with women and girls continuing to suffer discrimination in the field of education. This study is designed to examine the linkage between gender disparity in education and Pakistan economic success, using annual secondary data to date range 1980 to 2019. Also the study checked the variables integration order by using Dickey-Fuller and Philip-Peron tests apart from utilizing the ARDL bound test technique for long-run co-integration relationship while the (...) direction of causality were tested by using Granger causality. The analyses reflect that a strong adverse influence on growth was the result to be yielded from gender educational disparity in Pakistan. This finding is based on the empirical interpretation such as women educational attainment at primary and secondary levels, government expenditures on education, total secondary education and male secondary education significantly contribute to growth. However, the associations of population growth, total labor force, male education at primary level and total primary education with growth being significantly negative. This study also found long run pair-wise causality from male and female secondary school attainment separately, male primary education, total primary and total secondary education to economic success. (shrink)

The present study was conducted in Quetta district Balochistan province so as to determine the perception of the respondents about causes and consequences of child labor in Balochistan province. The sample size was 100 family units selected by using the simple random sampling. Somehow of the respondents fall in the age categories of 41 to 50 years, followed by 30% of the family units who were in the age categories of 50 and above years. More than half 52% of the (...) respondents were illiterates and the other of the respondents had primary level of education. The result is further expressed that the other 20% of the male respondents were of the view that the retail trade, cycling repairing and carpet business important child labor route respectively. While 20% of the female respondents revealed that they are cycling repairing and carpet business important child labor route respectively at Quetta district. Children are the assets of any nation without their contribution in the developmental process can be null and void, therefore it should be recommended that government must take stern action against the child labor at grass-root level to eliminate the child labor in the community or society. (shrink)

South Asian English fiction, in recent decades, has significantly manifested its deepest concern for history and its relevance in the contemporary global scenario. The last couple of years have noticed the publication of many English novels by Indian and Pakistani authors that in fact belong to the very genre of postmodern historiographic metafiction. In fact, postmodern fiction writers usually deviate from the traditional representation of past events. The current study examines the way history writing is reconfigured in the selected postmodern (...) novel. In these novels, the writers retell the traditional history through innovative narrative techniques and multiplicity of the views that de-centralize the conventional history. The present research attempts to explore Amitav Gosh’s The Glass Palace and Kamila Shamsie’s Burnt Shadows as historiographic metafiction, that is a sub-genre of postmodern fiction. The study focuses on the selected texts to explore how these novels transform the traditional history through the incorporation of magic realism, intertextuality and self-reflexivity. This research is qualitative and descriptive, while the textual analysis has been used as a research method. The theoretical concept of Linda Hutcheon is incorporated in this current study that ends with findings and recommendations for future research. (shrink)

The relationship between psychology and mysticism has gained a great deal of currency over the years. Various psychological models have provided theoretical foundations allowing the researchers to grasp profound varieties and nuances in mystical experiences across cultures and religious traditions. This has, in fact, broadened the canvass for mystical studies. The current paper attempts to carry out a psychological analysis of mystical experience of a character named Kimya in Muriel Maufroy’s novel “Rumi’s Daughter”. The study carries out an analysis of (...) how the mystic’s experience of the Divine can be translated in terms of a psychological process of personality disintegration initiated by a conflict, deconstruction of preconceived notions and beliefs and ultimately leading towards secondary integration of personality. Kazimierz Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration is employed as a framework to analyse her spiritual encounter. Through a minute textual analysis of the novel, the research reveals certain parallels between the process of personality development and mystical experience. It confirms the contention that the culmination of mystical union underlies psychological wellbeing and serenity on the part of mystic. The study also shows that mystics are those rare individuals who are capable of reaching the final level of personality development characterised by self-autonomy and higher level of consciousness. (shrink)

The incident of 1971 is a historical concern. Both wings of Pakistan were united at the time of the creation of Pakistan but some policies that were adopted after the creation of Pakistan were inadequate to resolve the growing differences between the both wings. Writers are divided regarding the causes of the Fall of Dhaka. Indian involvement has been highlighted frequently and it is also said that East Bengal was on the distance of 1000 km from West Pakistan. Apart from (...) these causes, this study will highlight a new perspective regarding the separation of East Bengal. From 1947 to 1971 the central governments of Pakistan took some measure regarding formulating policies and the policies were not sufficient to bring people of the both wings closer. Thus, the major policies and their consequences would be analysed in this paper. Further, this research would be a new one in a sense that there would be a general description of the policies from both wings. (shrink)

This is an era of globalization, and to maximize the competitive advantage, the banking industry is acknowledging and recognizing Human Resource practices and contributing their best to employ the organizational resources in best productive manner so that they can excel and enjoy competitive edge. Number of factors are affecting on performance of the employee. This research paper is mainly intended to explore the influence of employee diversity on the performance of employee in Private Banking business of Pakistan. Specifically in this (...) paper, the performance of the employee in a banking sector has been predicted by the influence of employee diversity with respect to their education, age, gender, and ethnicity. The data was collected from 203 private banking representatives by a convenience sampling method. In order to identify the relationship, the data has been tested by SPSS Regression and correlation analysis methods. Research findings suggested that the organizations with specific reference to banking sector should plan, design and execute the policies,, practices and strategies that have a wide range canvas inclusive every individual employee and workforce diversities. (shrink)

Present era can be categorized due to its speed of changes. Pakistani society got affected by worst kind of terrorism and extremism in last fifteen years. The root causes of prevailing security environment in Pakistan are multifaceted, complex and are derived from structural, as well as micro-level conditions. Objective of this research is to highlight the gaps in security doctrine of Pakistan. Both qualitative and quantitative methodology in the format of Knowledge Attitude and Practice is selected. Primary question of this (...) research was to find the gaps in national internal security policy of Pakistan. This primary question is further sub divided into ten sub questions. Implementation modalities and the impediments of National Internal Security Policy 2014 are also discussed. This research finds out that national internal security policy 2014 was a vibrant document and right step in the domain of policy formulation but demanded non-pragmatic results from security operators. Majority of its drawbacks are removed in in its later version of 2018-23. Survey and questionnaire based analysis is also made part of this article along with recommendations as submitted by respondents. (shrink)

Universities are specialized units aimed to deliver quality education and shaping future leadership to provide competent professionals to the industry. The establishment of ORIC in universities and significant increase in academia-industry linkage activities is strategic move towards achievement of the mentioned objectives. Bridging up the gap between academia and industry by adopting such strategies defines the successful role of HEIs. In view of increasing number of universities and continuous outflow of graduates it seems imperative to analyze and capitalize their potential (...) towards the growth of economy. However, the unemployment ratio and limited growth in SME sector reflect the insignificant absorption of graduates in corporate sector. The study aims to determine the factors that serve as barriers in achieving goals of HEIs by understanding the problems faced by university students in general and business graduates in particular on the basis of data gathered from 100 students from different universities present in Karachi. It shall also assists the policy makers in devising policy as per market demands, level of quality attained by universities, their involvement with corporate sector and in turn need of the industry to keep both parties at par in the fluctuating and contemporary era. (shrink)

The ability to be resilient in the face of adversity requires the absence of unhealthy coping behaviors, one of which is aggression. Middle adulthood is the developmental stage of various midlife stressors. Limited data is available with regards to this age group especially in Pakistan. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between resilience and aggression in middle adulthood. For this purpose, 200 participants with Mage = 42.67 years & SD = 6.04, from different work places and residential (...) areas of Karachi, Pakistan participated in the study. The Brief Resilience Scale was used to measure resilience whereas aggression was measured using the Short Form of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Pearson product-moment correlation and regression analysis, conducted using the SPSS, indicated the presence of a significant negative correlation between resilience and aggression. This study would help in understanding how resilience and aggression plays a role during middle adulthood. It would further be beneficial for mental health professionals to identify, devise, and implement better ways of enhancing resilience and helping people to deal with adversities in a healthy manner. (shrink)

In the election of 17th Lok Sabha held in mid-2019, the Indian political parties tried hard to be a tie-up with each other against the present Modi-led NDA dispensation. In independent India, first, such attempt was made early in 1974 and started a new process of consolidation of opposition forces by the merger. In line, the Bharatiya Lok Dal was formed by the merger of seven political parties and in this process, the constituent units lost their identity in the BLD. (...) At the time although Congress and the Jana Sangh were ready to cooperate but refused to lose their existence. Their experiences of emergency proved a blessing for them and they came together and formed an alliance called Janata Party, to challenge the Congress leadership of the time. Likewise, as of today in 2018-19 the Bharatiya Janata Party is the country’s largest political party in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies and all political parties of present-day India with Indian National Congress as forerunner with the help of regional party try a futile attempt first to challenge and then to defeat the BJP in various elections. Although with a great difference in the situation the motto of opposition parties has been one and only to give weighty protest to turn the events in their favour. This ups and downs of Indian politics may prove a path-breaking for other developing countries where political parties are struggling hard to gain power but did not succeed on account of causes best known to them. (shrink)

For over last 70 years, the concept of "return" attained primary focus for the national narrative of Palestinian struggle against devastating conditions, categorized as eviction from ancestral homeland, diffusion in all aspects and reconstitution of national unity. However, the very idea create fears among Israelis regarding their authority of whole Zionist enterprise, as well as demographic stability of Arab-Jewish ventures, with regards to the return of large number of Palestinians to their own places or any other part in Palestine. Discrimination (...) in opposition to Palestinians is no longer perpetrated fully by Israeli state, but common to its society, as well. Our article is an answer to the complicated question: Can refugees along with other displaced victims ever claim their right in entering Israel and Palestine, since this State includes Gaza and West Bank territories? Various articles have made an attempt to clarify the matter through some internal laws and have also interpreted the rights mentioned in ‘International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights’, particularly while clarifying the idea evolved from the typical term: 'his own country’. The article focuses on the viable first point, specifically on the claim as a right of the Diasporas return to the formerly called ‘Palestine’. Various resources are utilised for the purpose of the research. This includes books, scholarly researched articles and newspapers etc. The study is analytical in nature and based on qualitative research method. Most of the literature used for the article is Secondary. The conclusion drawn in precise manner is that the intentions are blended in repeated violations of human rights, along with ethnic and religious refining and various innumerable deficiencies, and try to become regularly involved in sensitive issues. This turned out to be disheartening for the people living there as no efforts are made for a truthful resolution. (shrink)

This research study has done to identify and investigate the major factors behind the excessive usage of Facebook by the youth of Karachi and what kind of impacts they have to face on various aspects of their lives due to this much consumption of Facebook. In this research paper, the researcher has applied both types of methodology, Qualitative as well as Quantitative. The researcher has selected Karachi as the universe of the study. The data has collected in the manner of (...) survey forms filled by students of different universities and colleges of Karachi; aged from 18 to 30 and the sample size is 50 in which half of the population includes males and half females and 10 interviews are also conducted from teachers and parents of Facebook users. This research study raises major points related to the extreme usage of Facebook which includes the mental and physical conditions of adolescents, children’s progress in their academic lives, impacts on relationships and disturbance in routine works. The data has collected in a fair way. The results revealed that Facebook repercussion only happens when an individual is using it in an excessive amount. The researcher suggests that using Facebook could be beneficial only if people learns to use it in manageable levels and if they are able to create a balance between the virtual world and real world. (shrink)

The only way to be successful now days in every field of life is the effective use of verbal expression. Language serves as a toolkit to inform, reveal, explore, expose, explain, manipulate, exaggerate, intensify, mitigate and what not. It has every hidden potential to serve its users. Significance of this toolkit of language can also be a bravura feature in gaining comic and/or tragic effects in media. The language of the media violates its few communicative principles which can be termed (...) as Gricean cooperative principle, to serve the specific interests via playing upon the common use of language. The present study explores the intricacies involved in any communication to achieve comic effects. For this purpose, Gricean maxims have been investigated thoroughly with the help of Pakistani comedy show “Bulbulay” which is a famous TV series all over the country. The TV series is considered to be popular among the masses due to its different and unique language that is achieved by flouting the maxims in Gricean’s terminology. The study explains the inimitable ways of achieving comic effects in series and also suggests further work on other areas regarding the unusual use of language to achieve desired results. (shrink)

Tourism has emerged as the fastest growing industry and source of foreign exchange all across the world. Many countries owe major part of their annual earning and wealth to tourism. Pakistan is amongst the best tourism destination in the world. The main attractions for international travelers are usually, mountains, snow, desserts, beaches, plains, rivers, forests, cliffs, scenic beauty, historical places and cultural diversity. Pakistan is blessed with all of the said attractions. Up until now Pakistan had faced two major impediments (...) towards becoming the top tourist destination, first it was not properly showcased in-front of the world and secondly in the recent past the security conditions were not suitable for international visitors. Today, it is high time for the Pakistan to become the top priority for tourists from all across the world. In this regard Social Media can play the best role possible. Various social media platforms are full of pictures and stories of people describing their experiences about the places they had been to. Secondly the governmental organizations also launch various social media office profile to show case the destinations. In this research the need of social media for the promotion of tourism in Pakistan has been focused. (shrink)

The study seeks to provide an overarching understanding to the US objectives and policies in the Gulf region at three intersecting levels; strategic interests, regional security and political reform. This study takes United States interactions with Arabia, as a case study, during the period 2001-2018 under the administrations of G.W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Additionally, the study attempts to generate greater understanding of the dynamics that motivating American international politics and subsequent policies toward the Arab gulf countries through (...) examining the interactions between both systematic and domestic factors. Noticeably, US entrenched vital enduring interests with the Arab Gulf States rested, for approximately seventy years, on protecting oil flow from the region into international economy without interruption, selling arms to the Gulf Arabs and maintaining gulf regional security against any real or potential threats. Therefore, the administrations of Bush, Obama, and Trump were not different from their predecessors in their strategy of preserving gulf security through forward military presence in the region. Hence, the author employs the neorealist theory to understand US interactions with the Gulf countries. Remarkably, despite some scholar's arguments that envisaged the US policies under G.W. Bush and Donald Trump as departed drastically from US conventional policy, the study argues and concludes that the US actual policy towards Arabia reflects a traditional policy of maintaining mutual interests. (shrink)

Marx’s works have left enormous influence on Western thought. Social change is the main concern of his thought. He views social change as a dialectical process which ultimately leads to absolute social order. For Marx the dialectic of material forces is central in the process of social generation that eventually leads to ‘socialism’. Marx thinks that individuals have their identity because of some kind of collectivity. Each historical stage furnishes individual with a fixed identity and corresponding role. Karl Popper, who (...) is one of the most renowned critics of Marx, critically examines Marx’s work. He is of the view that Marx’s thought embraces historicism and holism which cannot be rationally justifiable. Popper points out the irrational consequences of Marx’s absolutism. This paper attempts to highlight the absolutistic trend lying deep in Marx’s thought and then focuses on Popper’s critique of Marx’s absolutism. (shrink)

The phenomenon of child labor which denies children in their rights comparatively to possible outcomes and which seats them over inexpressible torments need to stop current in as irritable a period as suitable. Meanwhile, actions are being ended toward this path and administration has taken various errands to battle and expel little child labor from the general public. The task of halting and disposing of child labor needs certain separation additional devotion than most extraordinary formative games and demands for purposeful (...) and orchestrated endeavors from every single public accomplice. The present study was noble as the child labor risk in Quetta. It is basic to commit a sign of the study area jointly through its demographic data and general data of the shared characteristics. Present contemplate was accepted in Quetta. The sample size was one hundred family units which were selected through sample random sampling technique. Children rouse the change way thusly it should be propelled with the goal that their folks could be followed and restrained precisely. With this, the general public can dishearten road peddling by methods for children. Besides, government ought to edify the general population at the appalling impacts of street selling by children. The edification must be intended for demoralizing individuals from looking for from adolescent. (shrink)

Child prostitution is defined as a youngster is given cash or products by the culprit party previously or later than sexual relation, in any age children are liable to prostitution. The powerless and frequently misled youngster, there might be few or no elective alternatives. Unfortunately, children may regularly persuade themselves that they have settled on a free decision, instead of recognizing that their own lives are not in their control. Rising destitution is driving a developing figure of family unit to (...) offer kids, along with girl child specifically get involved in sex work. The research study is basically qualitative. Recent situation analyses and reports shows acceleration in different security issues of children for example camel race, and the sexual commercial exploitation of children and juvenile justice. These incorporate physical and mental handicap children, from ethnic minorities and minimized populaces, children live and chipping away at the road, in strife with the law, kid outcasts, isolated kids without their families, kids in spots of contention and catastrophic events, marginalized sexual minority, kids living in ghettos and the offspring of sex workers. Children who have a place with a few of these gatherings are much more helpless. The sampling method is simple random because to find such children. A semi structured interview schedule was prepared before interviews. (shrink)

The key resource for the achievement of institutional objectives and enhancement of high quality education are teachers. Well motivated and satisfied teachers cultivate the successful education system in the country. Thus, the present study attempts to observe the impact of motivation and experience on job satisfaction of teachers through the perspective of Herzberg’s ideology of employee motivation and job satisfaction by conducting the comparative study of both public and private sector universities in Karachi. The sample was purposively drawn from 300 (...) teachers and the data was analyzed by using partial least squares - Structural Equation Modeling. Additionally, significant differences were found in the job satisfaction and motivation level among private and public university teachers. The presented findings embrace the implications for higher education institutions and HR practitioners. (shrink)

The phenomena, processes and states related to the field of environment have been developed within complex contexts. Similarly, the meanings given to concepts in the context of environment too have gone into problematic situations. This leads to a dispute over meanings between environmentalist and philosophers within the same school of philosophy and among different schools such as western and eastern thoughts. This, further, has led to crippling of both the national and the international programs and plans that have been aimed (...) at solving environmental problems and conserving the environment. The broader objective of this paper is to inquire theoretical and historical evolutionary process of the concept of environment in the field of philosophy. In particular, this study discusses theoretical positions that were created in the history of philosophy in the context of modernity. In conclusion, this paper problematizes some issues which create ‘crisis in meaning’ in the context of environment and suggests practical and realistic orders to search a solution for the said crisis. (shrink)

Young adult literature has been studied to understand how authors represent characters who denotes their version of experiencing mental disability or social distress. Thus the following thematic analysis of young adult novels points a question, that whether portrayal of mental disability/social distress is empowering or not. Certainly, mental disabilities seem to be different in novels: in their attempts to represent mental disability/social distress as a real experience, they’re sometimes also attached to popular conceptions of protagonist’s love-affair. Hence, to focus on (...) novels representing mental disability/social distress; themes are hypothesized to explore the identity of the protagonist, society’s influence on protagonist and whether novel romanticize or represents realistic portrayal of disability/distress. Six novels have been selected-One memory of Flora Banks, Everything-Everything, All the Bright Places, 13 Reasons Why, When we Collided and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. These novels calls attention towards how society aggravates disability and shun those who don’t meet certain expectations to be mentally healthy. Literature is a powerful social force and conversation starter about disability/distress awareness to address and deal with challenges. Thus it’s important to recognize that it plays a key role in the empowerment and appreciation for disability which has been the center of this analysis. (shrink)

Young adult literature has been studied to understand how authors represent characters who denotes their version of experiencing mental disability or social distress. Thus the following thematic analysis of young adult novels points a question, that whether portrayal of mental disability/social distress is empowering or not. Certainly, mental disabilities seem to be different in novels: in their attempts to represent mental disability/social distress as a real experience, they’re sometimes also attached to popular conceptions of protagonist’s love-affair. Hence, to focus on (...) novels representing mental disability/social distress; themes are hypothesized to explore the identity of the protagonist, society’s influence on protagonist and whether novel romanticize or represents realistic portrayal of disability/distress. Six novels have been selected-One memory of Flora Banks, Everything-Everything, All the Bright Places, 13 Reasons Why, When we Collided and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. These novels calls attention towards how society aggravates disability and shun those who don’t meet certain expectations to be mentally healthy. Literature is a powerful social force and conversation starter about disability/distress awareness to address and deal with challenges. Thus it’s important to recognize that it plays a key role in the empowerment and appreciation for disability which has been the center of this analysis. (shrink)

Reading habits among young generation is going to declining and culture of reading books is modified to modern methods of communication like browsing social sites and internet, playing on cell phones and watching T.V. This era modernization has taken away the youth from reading habits. It is important that the young generation learns about the rich Urdu literature including Urdu fiction in which several writers have significantly contributed. The emergence of Urdu literature facilitated the expansion of Urdu language. Fiction writers (...) try to indicate important weaknesses of the society, cultural traditions, and norms, so as to find out the solutions to these issues. There were so many fictional works in Urdu literature having done during the progressive and independent movement. “ANGARAY” is a collection of fictional short stories authored by four young writers who had a progressive approach and tried in their own way to bring forth several social issues through their work at the time British India. This paper attempts to present a brief history of this collection and the consequences emerging out of its publication at that time. The study is reviewed and analyzed the criticism on selected short stories of subsequent publication. The study found that the readers would find the ideas and views of the four writers in the present time may provide them some relief from the opposition they faced on publication of their work. (shrink)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the end user perspective of advertising in Pakistan. This involves exploring and examining the consumer feedback about advertising from multiple dimensions. In this regard, survey was done for the current developments in literature so far, in order to discover a general pattern of consumer attitude that has been developing over time. This leads us to the realization that the advertising has been radically changing since its beginning with the change in literature. Advertisers (...) communicate with consumers through advertising, public relations, direct marketing, interactive/Internet marketing, sales promotion etc. organizations must use all available communication tools to communicate consumer and to create awareness about the need of consumer. Advertising is used to create awareness for products and services. Advertisers should know the needs of consumers, target audience, their culture, likes and dislikes. Advertising create feelings and satisfaction in consumer’s mind. Many food and beverage brands use advertising for the promotion of their products. Advergames have an advertisement for a product, service, or company and have become popular. Cultural frame work plays important role in advertising and consumer behavior. Music plays an imported role in advertising; it has recently attracted interest in marketing and consumer psychology. Music is key elements of the culture; it plays an important role in consumers’ perceptions, moods, and in the theme of the advertisements. (shrink)

This study investigates the HIV/AIDS coverage in the selected newspapers. The premises of the study depend upon the fact that informing public about any social issue that effects people’s life is among one of the fundamental functions of media, such as HIV/AIDS is one of prime importance. In this study two most prime newspapers of Pakistan Daily Jang and Dawn were analyzed. This paper adopted two approaches for investigation one is content analysis, and another is discourse analysis. The content analysis (...) was used to determine the frequency of HIV/AIDS content coverage. Discourse analysis was used to determine consciousness of these newspapers on covering HIV/AIDS stories with correct language and terminologies according to the given media guideline of UNICEF. Total 368 editions from 1st July 2017 to 31st December 2017 were sampled for the study. The result of the study indicates that newspapers have severely underestimated the severity of HIV/AIDS. The coverage given by newspapers is dissatisfactory. Selected newspapers used inappropriate terminologies and language in the stories which shows negligence of newspapers regarding HIV/AIDS issue. (shrink)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the end user perspective of advertising in Pakistan. This involves exploring and examining the consumer feedback about advertising from multiple dimensions. In this regard, survey was done for the current developments in literature so far, in order to discover a general pattern of consumer attitude that has been developing over time. This leads us to the realization that the advertising has been radically changing since its beginning with the change in literature. Advertisers (...) communicate with consumers through advertising, public relations, direct marketing, interactive/Internet marketing, sales promotion etc. organizations must use all available communication tools to communicate consumer and to create awareness about the need of consumer. Advertising is used to create awareness for products and services. Advertisers should know the needs of consumers, target audience, their culture, likes and dislikes. Advertising create feelings and satisfaction in consumer’s mind. Many food and beverage brands use advertising for the promotion of their products. Advergames have an advertisement for a product, service, or company and have become popular. Cultural frame work plays important role in advertising and consumer behavior. Music plays an imported role in advertising; it has recently attracted interest in marketing and consumer psychology. Music is key elements of the culture; it plays an important role in consumers’ perceptions, moods, and in the theme of the advertisements. (shrink)

The nexus between investment and interest rate is always considered essential to analyze the economic activity as these variables are important economic indicators in defining macroeconomic activity. However, the unchanged condition of investment in Pakistan has raised the cost of investment and crates uncertainty in investors. The paper investigates the link between rate of interest and investment to incorporate a new dimension of call money rate that may enhance the investment opportunities in Pakistan, employing time series analysis for the time (...) span of 1973 - 2015. The ARDL Bound Testing Approach and ECM are employed to capture both the long and short-run dynamics of the variables in the model. The results of the study indicate that the call money rate has significant effect on investment and thus on economic growth. Therefore, the preparation and implementation of financial policies may increase the investmentfriendly rate of interest to stimulate economic growth in Pakistan. (shrink)

This article analyzes the concept of postcolonial aesthetics as developed and debated by such critics as Bill Ashcroft, Elleke Boehmer and Robert Young. In particular, it critiques Ashcroft’s theorization of the postcolonial aesthetics in his article ‘Towards a Postcolonial Aesthetics’ and recommends an alternative approach to the conceptualization of postcolonial aesthetics with reference to Muhammad Hasan Askari’s essay on Ahmed Ali’s novel Twilight in Delhi. It questions Ashcroft’s emphasis on the hybrid linguistic makeup of the postcolonial text as the source (...) of the particular aesthetic effects of the text and emphasizes the need for differentiating between affection – the writer’s deep sense of engagement with and involvement in the narrative – and affectation – a clever use of native words and expressions by the writer to authenticate his or her cultural identity – in discussing the affective dimension of a postcolonial text. The article argues that the aesthetic impact of the postcolonial text is produced by the intensity of experience and emotional involvement of the postcolonial writer as opposed to being produced by creative wordplay and mixing of local and foreign languages. Thus, the article contributes to the ongoing debates about the aesthetic dimension of postcolonial literature. (shrink)

This study analyzed the concept of women’s status and oppression as depicted in the writings of one of the famous fiction writers in Urdu literature named Qurat-ul-Ain Haider. 1 It was a qualitative research study and was based on a sociological analysis of a selected set of stories of the writer. Four stories were chosen from Qurat-ul-Ain Haider’s writings for content analysis. This study reflected the socio-cultural values regarding status of women in the Indian Subcontinent.2 It facilitated in understanding women’s (...) oppression specifically with reference to the culture in the then Subcontinent. The concept of women’s oppression in the specific context of the literature emerged in the form of low status of women, gender oppression, patriarchal cultural values, and social injustice towards women. The writings of Quratul-Ain-Haider are to date relevant in understanding of the status and subordination of women in South Asia and can serve as a contribution to Feminist Sociology within a specific cultural context. (shrink)

ASEAN is widely praised for its establishing regional cooperation among countries of Southeast Asia and attracting countries from rest of the world too because of its core objective of bringing peace and stability in the region. Promotion of regional trade and investment followed by unprecedented economic growth is the major credit of ASEAN which is widely appreciated. Nevertheless, despite 50 years of its age, it hasn’t been fully successful in managing internal conflicts among its member states and conflicts with external (...) states. Its ineffectiveness to manage conflicts have raised concerns over the relevance of ASEAN in 21st century where Asian continent is said to be playground for major powers because of shifting of epicenter of International Politics from America and Europe to Asia. ASEAN’s role is limited by its charter of Non-interference into the internal affairs of its member states. This article looks into the basic weaknesses in ASEAN as an organization thus providing recommendation to overcome its shortcomings and improve its performance. The article concludes that ASEAN, because of increasing demands of amendments in conflict management techniques due to changes in the nature of conflict, needs to transform from its modest goals and principles to deal with conflict to new trends of conflict management, perhaps from soft mediation to hard mediation in near future. (shrink)

Although it is very common to argue that the foreign direct investment is beneficial for the economic development of a nation. This exploration investigates the connection amongst FDI and economic development in case of Pakistan. In this study secondary data from 1985 to 2016 is taken to examine the relationship. The investigation included GDP as explained and exports and FDI as explanatory variables. To check data either it is stationary or not the study used Augmented Dickey Fuller test in our (...) study. After making data stationary we have used OLS method to investigate the nature of relationship between the variables. Our results show that there is direct link amongst explained and explanatory variable. The findings also show that there is significant relationship between FDI and economic growth. After analyzing the calculations we came to know that foreign direct investment is a significant element for the economic development because it has positive impact and have significant relation with growth of an economy. Since FDI is an impressive element in economic development so, government should take steps to attract the foreign investors and make policies to encourage the trade liberalization to gain more from the foreign investment. (shrink)

Globally human societies are battling with diverse challenges from socio-cultural apprehension to the wave of religious extremism & conflicts consequently it is a quite high time for human societies and its stakeholders to come up with the possible applied framework with solutions to face these challenges. The one specific solution is to aware of the new generation by educating them to adopt a positive attitude to resolve the issues of conflicts. Keeping the above view there is a need for introducing (...) peace education and Peace-building in the mainstream education system at all levels. The primary objective of the current study was to explore the perception of senior University teachers as internal stakeholders of education system regarding the need for Peace Education & Peacebuilding in the mainstream education system at higher education level specifically. The selected population was public sector Universities of District Shaheed Benazirabad while the sample was thirty percent randomly selected senior teachers of three departments. The data was collected with the help of a questionnaire which was structured on the fivepoint Likert scale. The data were analyzed accordingly. The study revealed the different aspects of peace education and Peace-building. The findings recommended that high importance should be given to peace education in the mainstream education system. (shrink)