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The Slogan "Maar Nahi Pyar" (love, rather than punish) has been introduced in Punjab Schools to provide a safe and learner-friendly school environment. The study explores teachers' and parents' perspectives regarding the effects of this slogan on the students' behavior toward their education and students' discipline. A qualitative, narrative phenomenological approach was used for this purpose. For data collection, semi-structured and focus group interviews were conducted with the teachers and only semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents to collect the data. Purposive sampling was used, whereas teachers with at least five years of teaching experience before this slogan were selected. The findings revealed mixed reactions regarding the effects of the slogan on the school environment. Some teachers and parents mentioned improvements in the students' participation and behaviour. However, the majority of the teachers and parents highlighted its negative consequences. Teachers mentioned the instances where the students took advantage of this emphatic approach, resulting in increased disruptions and reduced academic focus. The study also implies that the implementation of the slogan has its benefits, but there is a dire need to overcome the challenges the teachers face for its successful implementation. The findings contribute to the growing literature on alternate discipline strategies, emphasizing the need for more balanced and well-enforced policies. Future research should focus on strategies that mitigate adverse effects and ensure that positive reinforcement does not affect classroom management.

This article explores the journey of courtesans who received lavish treatment, were adored by the emperors for their beauty and artistic skills; however, they have been reduced to the status of prostitutes or sex workers as Louise Brown's work The Dancing Girls of Lahore demonstrates. These magnificent courtesans' artistic abilities—music, dance, poetry, and manners—have become a distant legacy as a result of the strict policies of the colonial masters, who referred to them as exotic others. The article argues that the courtesans’ reduction into subaltern characters of prostitutes is a source of their perpetual exploitation, marginalization, and sufferings in the cultural context of Pakistan. The rationale behind carrying out this research is to speak for the characters who are pushed to the peripheries of mainstream society, exploited by the pimps and the clients, ignored by the state, and are carriers of many fatal diseases. The work is also pertinent while exposing the complex interplay of colonial histories, cultural identities, and gender dynamics at work in the chosen book. The article takes the postcolonial feminism as a theoretical framework and methodology for the textual analysis of the selected book. Conceptual markers of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Leela Gandhi, and Ania Loomba have been used to support the claim that colonial powers have impacted the identities, class, and social roles of the courtesans while reducing them into marginalized characters of prostitutes. This article concludes that despite courtesans’ resistance to regain their lost image, they are helpless in the hands of contemporary powers and face daily exploitation for their survival.

This qualitative research study examines the views and experiences of gratitude among Muslims and non-Muslims. Using a purposive sampling way, the study recruited 20 people, consisting of 15 Muslims and 5 Non Muslims, who are between 18 and 23 years of age. By using semi-structured interviews, the participants were asked to reflect in detail about their experiences of gratitude, how they express and show it, and what causes them to feel grateful, thus enabling a richer understanding of this phenomenon. Several key themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the interviews, such as the differing attitudes towards gratitude in Muslims versus non Muslims, the prevalence of gratitude in almost all facets of life, and the ability to foster feelings of gratitude through difficult life situations. Further, the study showed the important role of religion on gratitude, where respondents revealed that they often performed religious acts like praying as a form of being thankful. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the phenomena associated with subjective experiences of gratitude and emphasizes the significance of fostering gratefulness as a means to attain a more purposeful life.

Youth, particularly students, have historically played a vital role in shaping the destiny of communities, societies, and nations. Their vigor, enthusiasm, and the cutting-edge knowledge they possess often serve as catalysts for societal transformation. This paper explores the historical relationship between Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and students, focusing on his staunch belief in the importance of education and its role in the progress of a nation. From the early stages of his political career, Jinnah recognized the key role students could play in societal change. When he decided to launch Pakistan movement, he not only engaged with Muslim students but also entrusted them with the responsibility of rationally propagating the idea of a separate Muslim state. This study delves into Jinnah’s interactions with students, examining how he guided, mentored, and assigned them roles in the political landscape. Moreover, it reflects on his consistent expectations of the student body, despite the evolution of his political ideologies. By analyzing Jinnah’s approach, this paper highlights the significant role he envisaged for students in the realization of his vision for a new nation.

The research inquires the relation of job insecurity induced by employer with recalcitrant behavior of employees in public or private universities of Lahore, Pakistan. The article investigates whether the job insecurity induced by employer is related to the satisfaction or recalcitrant behavior in employees of an organization. The constructs are studied through mixed methodology in a cross-sectional comparative setting by administering 250 online questionnaires and 30 interviews of the faculty. The results indicate that job insecurity and the related perceptions lead to recalcitrant behavior in the university faculty. This has significant insights for the employee retention, turnover and performance in the universities as well as organizational productivity and sustainability.

Wheat is a crucial staple diet for Pakistan, constituting approximately 65% of food grain consumption, especially among the rural and urban poor. The strategic importance of wheat has led successive Pakistani governments to intervene extensively in the market, setting support prices and providing subsidies to stabilize both farmer incomes and consumer prices. However, these policies impose significant financial strain on the government, exacerbated by high procurement costs and inefficiencies in storage and distribution. The Punjab government, responsible for a substantial portion of wheat production and procurement, faces mounting financial burdens from subsidies and loans, resulting in large fiscal deficits. Domestic wheat prices exceed international levels, reducing global competitiveness. This study reviews existing literature and examines the financial implications of current wheat procurement policies. It highlights the need for policy adjustments, particularly recommending a shift from price subsidies to input subsidies for fertilizers and seeds.

The word “madrassa” does generate a huge complexity, negative propaganda, and curiosity among scholars of regional, national, and international communities since 9/11. It is considered an institution of preaching hatred and breeding violence and extremism. Madrassa as a unit of study also remainsless focused by academics and came to the forefront since 9/11. Ilm, Talib, Maktab, all terms have been denoted as negative but never understood in a concrete term to their original sense. No heed has been paid to the mushroom growth of these madrassas across Pakistan at any level. This increase in numerical strength itself is an alarming situation not only for national or regional peace and stability but for the international community as well. Post 9/11 Government of Pakistan has tried to reform madrassa system but could not achieve much success due to a shallow approach and non-compliance of various madrassa establishments. Therefore, the fundamental objective of the study is to understand the changing pattern of madrassa with a focus on patron-client case study of Sindh and the role of local chieftains and government to modernize these institutions. This paper is an initial and early attempt to highlight major causes responsible for the mushroom development of patron-client relationship and to highlight the conundrum of a gap between state and society in the province of Sindh.

The rise of right-wing populism is a significant ideology which combines populist beliefs with right-wing policies, highlighting nationalism, anti-elitism, and protectionism. Across Europe, right-wing populist movements such as Hungary’s Fidesz party, Poland’s Law and Justice Party are on the rise and exerting pressure on liberal democracy and reconfiguring fixed political and economic structures. The effects embrace labor, scarcity of foreign investment, and economic insecurity followed by economic stagnation, increase in economic inequality, and cultural fears as a result of globalization. Right-wing populists consider historical injustices and societal phobias and they exploit the respective sentiments with welfare programs as well as protectionist policies that may have immediate positive impact on the electorate. Also, populist ideas have impact on social relations and the institutions especially trade unions, increasing challenges in a political sphere which in turn impacts employment rights. There’s a need for understanding the nature of the right-wing populism and its future implications for a society and democracy under rising international politics.

Climate change is a great threat to Pakistan's economy, security, and livelihoods. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and water scarcity have serious consequences. This study explores the implications of climate change on world politics and its challenges for Pakistan. A qualitative approach is used to analyze secondary sources. The study finds that Pakistan faces many challenges, such as shifting temperatures, water scarcity, floods, and coastal erosion. Climate change influences agriculture, human migration, and the economy. The research provides financial support, technology sharing, capacity building, and international cooperation to face challenges of climate change. Developed countries should realize that they have emitted greenhouse gases during their historical processes and therefore, a customized package has to be presented to them. Climate justice and equity are highly important in the international climate policy. Proper execution of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies will enhance Pakistan's sustainable development.

The research aims to conduct a cross-border examination of news framing in well-read and specific Indian and Pakistani newspapers following the killing of Burhan Wani. Focusing on how media narratives contribute to shaping public perceptions and biases, the study seeks to uncover the nuances and divergences in the framing of this pivotal event. By employing the Framing Analysis approach of Erving Goffman, the research aims to unravel the underlying influences of print media that shape the narratives of both nations.

Ethics is essential in forming and impacting many aspects of human life, including people’s beliefs and behaviours. Since the ethics ensures a fruitful teaching-learning process, promote a polite and encouraging institutional climate, and strengthen the bond between educators and students, ethical values are essential for educators. Using a validated Likert-scale questionnaire grounded in literature and expert review, the study employed a descriptive correlational research design. The study sought to understand perspectives of teachers from of Baltistan on practicing ethical values and assess their adherence to these values. The findings revealed a high overall commitment to ethical values, with a mean adherence score of 0.907.Among identified dimensions, “Devotion and Critical Thinking” had the highest mean (0.893), indicating a strong faculty alignment with intellectual and professional integrity. In contrast, “Inclusiveness and Empathy” with the lowest mean score (0.736), highlighted a need for development in promoting an academic climate that is more inclusive and empathetic. Correlational analysis indicated no statistically significant relationships between ethical adherence and demographic variables (gender, age, marital status, education level, or political orientation). The study underscores the importance of reinforcing inclusive and empathetic practices in university settings and recommends the development of targeted professional development programs to address these gaps. This study provides practically insightful framework for educators, policymakers, curriculum designers, and community leaders to strengthen ethical culture and address ethical challenges in higher education.

The post-World War II era, while transformed European polities, engendered far reaching socio-political, religious, cultural and economic changes in Asia. India got independence in 1947, soon after the end of World War II, from the British Raj and two newly born nation states, India and Pakistan, were carved out. These states fashioned their alignments afresh depending upon their historical legacies and perceived future trajectories. Pakistan initially developed dependence on United States which was leading the West in post WWII period. However, Pakistan under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto realigned itself, with fresh thrust, into developing close ties with China and the Middle East. Middle East had a legacy of religious ties with Pakistan and people of both countries had sympathies with each other even before the establishment of Pakistan. However, developing close cultural and political ties with China was a unique re-enactment of past, of a long history of cultural sharing between the region now constituting Pakistan and China from the ancient period. Pakistan-China border sharing is basically the physical dimension of their cultural sharing of many centuries. The present initiative of One Belt One Road is yet another recent creative projection which will transform the cultural exchanges of these three regions into economic exchanges. The twenty first century—rightly being projected as Asian century—will solidify the economic links between regions and then transcend from economic to cultural exchanges further. An example in point is the increasing popularity of Chinese language in Pakistan and the Middle East noticeable even on billboards. On the other hand, the Chinese—in their interaction with Pakistanis and the Middle Easterners—have already started absorbing words of Urdu and Arabic languages. Similarly, cultural exchange has started in other cultural forms too, such as arts and crafts. But it is important to discuss the centuries old historical legacy of cultural exchanges among these regions. This paper will highlight the importance of historical legacy of religious and cultural exchanges between these regions and the way this legacy can work to foster and solidify future trajectories of cultural exchanges