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Beyond Awareness: A Qualitative Evaluation of Civil Society–Led Advocacy and Communication Campaigns on Child Labour in Pakistan's Brick Kiln Sector, 2007–2024
Pakistan’s brick kiln sector remains a persistent site of child and bonded labour in South Asia, with an estimated one-third of its four-million-strong workforce being children. Despite sustained civil society advocacy and communication campaigns between 2007 and 2024, child labour prevalence has shown minimal measurable reduction. No prior study has systematically evaluated the comparative effectiveness of communication models in this sector across a longitudinal timeframe. This article maps and categorises civil society-led advocacy and communication campaigns targeting child labour in Pakistan’s brick kiln sector from 2007 to 2024, evaluates documented policy and practice outcomes, and identifies communication model characteristics most strongly associated with measurable impact. A qualitative secondary analysis was conducted through systematic document review of ILO and USDOL evaluations, NGO reports, legislation, and case studies, analysed using thematic analysis, a comparative framework of communication models (SBCC and Rights-Based Approach), and a political economy lens. Results show that campaigns predominantly used information-dissemination models generating outputs but limited sustained practice change. Participatory and rights-based approaches showed stronger outcomes, though sector-specific evidence remains thin. Across all models, the political economy of the kiln industry, particularly the peshgi bonded debt system, kiln owner political organisation, and weak provincial enforcement, functioned as a binding ceiling on effectiveness. Civil society advocacy achieved legislative reform, including the Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Act 2016, but structural enforcement failures render this progress flawed. Communication-only interventions cannot overcome structural constraints. Future programming must integrate rights-based communication with economic alternatives, legal empowerment, and sustained enforcement action directed at state duty-bearers. References Abbas, F. (2017). Hidden hazardous child labor as a complex human rights phenomenon: A case study of child labor in Pakistan's brick-making industry. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1), Article 1369486. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1369486 Ahmed, N. (2024). Gaps and limitations in the Punjab child labor at brick kilns act 2016. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5775082 Ali, A., Nawaz, A., Waheed, R., & Asmat, A. (2025). Pakistan's GSP Plus status and human rights compliance (2014–2024). Social Science Review Archives, 3(4), 2829–2841. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i4.1380 Awan, S. A. (2023). Assessing the capacity of law enforcement agencies to address child labour in Pakistan. 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AI Literacy Competencies among Library Professionals in Saudi Arabia: A Cognitive, Normative, and Behavioural Perspective
The aim of the study was to explore the artificial intelligence (AI) competencies (cognitive, behavioural, and normative) that library professionals need to acquire; the AI ethical issues associated with AI literacy and essential knowledge areas; and differences in participants’ opinions across demographic variables. A quantitative study based on a self-developed questionnaire. The data were collected from library professionals in Saudi Arabia via Google Forms. There were 103 replies, of which 96 were valid. Saudi Arabian librarians demonstrated moderate to low AI literacy across cognitive, behavioural, and normative competencies, with mean scores ranging from 2.07 to 3.05 on a 5-point scale. They were aware of AI tools that might improve library operations, but they did not purchase or integrate them. There was also a lack of ethical awareness, as professionals have just now struggled to determine if AI is trustworthy and what privacy concerns need to be addressed. Some found the AI training program they attended inadequate, suggesting that it may be necessary to schedule tailored training. Inferential analysis showed no significant differences in AI literacy across the demographic variables. This study is unique; no studies have examined AI literacy skills among library professionals in Saudi Arabia. This study will provide input to the literature on librarianship, the social sciences, and AI literacy. This study had a limited population of library professionals in Saudi Arabia through random and convenient availability. References Allen, L. K., & Kendeou, P. (2024). ED-AI lit: An interdisciplinary framework for AI literacy in education. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 11(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/23727322231220339 Almatrafi, O., Johri, A., & Lee, H. (2024). A systematic review of AI literacy conceptualization, constructs, and implementation and assessment efforts (2019–2023). 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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Kabir Khan, Farha Zafira Binti Agos Lokman, Mohamad Noorman Masrek https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Devolution’s Bureaucratic Mediation: Centre-Punjab Relations and the 18th Amendment in Pakistan (2010–2018)
Pakistan's most significant federalist initiative, the 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), scrapped the Concurrent Legislative List and transferred wide-ranging legislative, administrative, and fiscal responsibilities to the provinces. But more than ten years on, devolution remains uneven. In this paper, we explore the administrative, political and institutional obstacles to devolution between 2010 and 2018, with a focus on Centre-Punjab relations, the pivot of Pakistan's federation. Through a qualitative documentary analysis of parliamentary proceedings, archival documents, institutional reports and academic work, we argue that bureaucratic mediation operates as a two-pronged process: provincial bureaucracies, especially in Punjab, facilitate some devolved functions, while federal bureaucracies continue to exert control via regulatory coordination, conditional fiscal transfers and legal grey areas. The National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which increased provincial transfers, has not ended fiscal dependence: the provinces receive 60-70% of their budget from the centre. The removal of the Concurrent Legislative List resulted in unequal sectoral outcomes - provincialization in health and education, but contested labour and interprovincial coordination. We suggest that constitutional devolution in the absence of simultaneous bureaucratic, fiscal autonomy and effective intergovernmental coordination creates a hybrid governance form: constitutionally decentralized and operationally centralised. In the case of Punjab, we find that bureaucratic capacity is not enough; path dependence, bureaucratic opposition and political bargaining over devolution shape the outcomes. Our insights enrich understanding of decentralization theory by identifying bureaucratic mediation as a critical variable and provide policy lessons for other federations in the midst of reforms. References Adeney, K. (2020). Federalism and ethnic conflict regulation in India and Pakistan. Palgrave Macmillan. Asian Development Bank. (2015). Pakistan: Decentralization and local governance. Asian Development Bank. Asian Development Bank. (2023). Pakistan: Fiscal decentralization and service delivery. Asian Development Bank. Bahl, R. (2008). The implementation of fiscal decentralization. In E. Ahmad & G. Brosio (Eds.), Handbook of fiscal federalism (pp. 388–413). Edward Elgar Publishing. Bardhan, P. (2002). Decentralization of governance and development. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16(4), 185–205. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533002320951037 Bird, R. M., & Vaillancourt, F. (Eds.). (2008). Fiscal decentralization in developing countries. Cambridge University Press. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Faguet, J. P. (2014). Decentralization and governance. World Development, 53, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.01.002 Gerring, J. (2007). Case study research: Principles and practices. Cambridge University Press. Government of Pakistan. (2017). 6th population and housing census 2017. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Government of Punjab. (2015). Annual devolution implementation report 2014–15. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2011). Annual revenue report 2010–11. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2014). Annual revenue report 2013–14. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2017). Annual revenue report 2016–17. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2018). Annual revenue report 2017–18. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Grindle, M. S. (2011). Good enough governance revisited. Development Policy Review, 29(s1), s199–s221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.2011.00539.x Hill, M., & Hupe, P. (2014). Implementing public policy: An introduction to the study of operational governance (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. Husain, I. (2018). Governance and decentralization in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Husain, I. (2019). Civil service reform in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Jaffrelot, C. (2015). The Pakistan paradox: Instability and resilience. International Journal of South Asian Studies, 8(1), 1–22. Jaffrelot, C. (2024). The 18th Amendment and Pakistan's democratic transition. Contemporary South Asia, 32(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/09584935.2024 Kennedy, C. (2012). Bureaucracy and governance in Pakistan. In M. Waseem (Ed.), Pakistan’s political economy (pp. 89–112). Oxford University Press. Khan, H. (2017). Constitutional and political history of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Litvack, J., Ahmad, J., & Bird, R. (1998). Rethinking decentralization in developing countries. World Bank. Mustafa, Z. (2019). The 18th Amendment and Pakistan's federal evolution. The Lahore Journal of Economics, 24(2), 1–28. Naseer, A., & Khalid, I. (2021). Bureaucratic mediation in Pakistan's devolution. Asian Journal of Political Science, 29(3), 301–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2021.1967304 National Assembly of Pakistan. (2014). Parliamentary debates on devolution implementation. Government of Pakistan. National Finance Commission. (2009). 7th National Finance Commission Award 2009. Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan. Niskanen, W. A. (1971). Bureaucracy and representative government. Aldine-Atherton. North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press. Oates, W. E. (1999). An essay on fiscal federalism. Journal of Economic Literature, 37(3), 1120–1149. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.37.3.1120 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2019). Making decentralisation work: A handbook for policy-makers. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/g2g9faa7-en Pasha, H. A. (2016). Fiscal federalism in Pakistan: The 7th NFC Award and beyond. The Pakistan Development Review, 55(4), 387–410. https://doi.org/10.30541/v55i4IIpp.387-410 Pressman, J. L., & Aaron Wildavsky. (1973). Implementation: How great expectations in Washington are dashed in Oakland. University of California Press. Rana, M. (2020). The 18th Amendment and bureaucratic resistance. Pakistan Journal of Public Administration, 18(2), 55–78. Rondinelli, D. A. (1981). Government decentralization in comparative perspective. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 47(2), 133–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/002085238104700205 Shah, A. (2012). The 18th Constitutional Amendment: Glimpses of multi-order governance. The Lahore Journal of Economics, 17(SE), 265–284. Shah, A. (2019). Federalism in Pakistan: The 18th Amendment and beyond. In N. Aziz (Ed.), Pakistan’s constitutional journey (pp. 145–176). Oxford University Press. Stepan, A. (1999). Federalism and democracy: Beyond the U.S. model. Journal of Democracy, 10(4), 19–34. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1999.0072 Supreme Court of Pakistan. (2015). Government of Punjab v. Federation of Pakistan (Civil Appeal No. 12 of 2015). Talbot, I. (2015). Pakistan: A modern history. Oxford University Press. Thelen, K. (2004). How institutions evolve: The political economy of skills in Germany, Britain, the United States, and Japan. Cambridge University Press. Treisman, D. (2007). The architecture of government: Rethinking political decentralization. Cambridge University Press. United Nations Development Programme. (2013). Federalism in Pakistan: Opportunities and challenges. UNDP Pakistan. United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Devolution in Pakistan: Status, challenges and way forward. UNDP Pakistan. Waseem, M. (2019). Centre–province relations in Pakistan. In L. R. Singh (Ed.), Federalism in South Asia (pp. 123–148). Routledge. Watts, R. L. (2008). Comparing federal systems (3rd ed.). Queen’s University Press. Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society. University of California Press. Wilson, J. Q. (1989). Bureaucracy: What government agencies do and why they do it. Basic Books. World Bank Group. (2017). Pakistan federalism and service delivery. World Bank Group. World Bank Group. (2022). Pakistan: Fiscal federalism and service delivery. World Bank Group. Zaidi, S. A. (2014). The bureaucratic steel frame. Economic and Political Weekly, 49(12), 45–52. Zaidi, S. A. (2020). Issues in Pakistan’s economy (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hasnain Nawaz, Qurat-ul-Ain Bashir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Legal, Institutional, and Technological Development in Forensic Science in Pakistan
This research paper critically examines the legal, institutional, and technological development of forensic science within Pakistan's criminal justice system. Employing a qualitative thematic analysis methodology, the study draws upon semi-structured interviews with fingerprint examiners and forensic practitioners from major forensic institutions, including the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), the National Forensic Science Agency (NFSA), and regional laboratories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The findings reveal that while Pakistan has established a foundational legal framework, primarily through the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984, and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency Act, significant gaps persist in standardization, judicial training, and the absence of a cohesive national forensic policy. Institutionally, specialized forensic agencies have enhanced the reliability of scientific evidence through DNA profiling, fingerprint analysis, and digital forensics; however, uneven resource distribution, inadequate coordination between police and forensic experts, and infrastructural disparities across provinces undermine systemic efficiency. Technologically, the adoption of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) and biometric tools marks progress, yet the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence remains nascent due to financial constraints and skill shortages. Additionally, resource limitations, insufficient training programs, and limited career development opportunities hinder workforce capacity. The study concludes that while forensic science in Pakistan has evolved considerably, realizing its full potential requires comprehensive policy reforms, equitable resource allocation, enhanced inter-institutional coordination, strategic investment in AI and digital forensics, and sustained commitment to professional training and academic development. These measures are essential to strengthen evidentiary reliability, reduce wrongful convictions, and uphold the rule of law. References Abbas, A., Sipra, S. Z., Falak, M. W., & Khan, S. M. (2024). A critical case study on the role and admissibility of forensic science evidence in the criminal justice system of Pakistan. Pakistan JL Analysis & Wisdom, 3, 232. Afridi, N. (2021). The current status of forensic science and its impact on administration of criminal justice system in Pakistan: An analytical study. Available at SSRN 3781586. Ahmed, I., Rehman, T. U., & Ali, S. H. (2025). DIGITAL EVIDENCE IN PAKISTAN: LEGAL FRAMEWORK, FORENSIC CHALLENGES, AND JUDICIAL RELIABILITY. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(1), 12-20. Ahmed, M., Hussain, N., Khan, I., Ajmal, S., & Ahmed, T. (2025). Forensic Science's Relevance in Pakistan's Criminal Justice System. Journal of Political Stability Archive, 3(2), 1068-1076. Ajmal, A., & Rasool, F. (2022). Forensic evidence in criminal justice system in Pakistan. Global Legal Studies Review, 7(3), 25-31. Amin, F., Said, I., & Butt, M. A. (2025). AI-based cybersecurity solutions: Securing information and privacy in the evolving digital age. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(2), 142-158. Asif, M., & Qayum, S. (2023). Analyzing the Admissibility of Forensic Evidence in the Criminal Justice of Pakistan: Issues, Challenges and Scope. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 15(3), 61. Baig, K., & Hameed, M. S. (2025). An Analysis of the Role of Forensic Evidence from the Commission of Offence to the Trial. Pakistan Journal of Criminal Justice, 5(1), 27-45. Barton Harrell, S. L. (2025). Prosecuting Attorneys’ Experiences and Perceptions of Evidence That Most Often Leads to Wrongful Convictions at the Pretrial Stage. Bhan, S., Kumar, N., Singh, V. P., Gope, S., & Aqib, M. Challenges In Admissibility Of Forensic Evidence: A Comparative Analysis Of Legal Standards Across Jurisdictions. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 11(14s), 2025. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage publications. Farhad, A., Ali, R. N., & Maryam, B. (2025). Forensic Science in Court: Assessing the Legal Response to Emerging Reliability Concerns in Pakistan. ASSAJ, 4(02), 2017-2024. Ibrar, M., Yin, S., Li, H., Karim, S., & Laghari, A. A. (2024). Comprehensive review of emerging cybersecurity trends and developments. International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 16(5), 633-647. Imtiaz, U., Ahmad, B., Sajid, M. H., Abbas, Q., Qureshi, M. A., Rasheed, S., & Khan, A. (2025). An Integrated Machine Learning Framework for Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges: A Case Study on Soan Bridge. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 5(2), 194-207. Imtiaz, U., Malik, S., & Khan, A. (2024). Blockchain-Driven Cybersecurity Framework for Smart Homes: Integrating IoT and Machine Learning for Secure Automation. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 4(4), 570-583. Khan, S. M., Yaqoob, A., Khokhar, J. A., & Malik, F. (2025). An Examining the Legal Framework for Criminal Investigations in Pakistan: Gaps and Reform Needs. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(1), 1957-1969. Liaquat, I., Islam, A., & Ahmad, B. (2025). Forensic Science and Artificial Intelligence in Criminal Investigations: An Analysis of Operational Realities in Punjab, Pakistan. Journal for Current Sign, 3(4), 2278-2293. Noor, S., Azeem, A., & Maqsood, W. (2025). Enhancing Forensic Evidence Management in Pakistan's Criminal Justice System: A Criminological Analysis. Journal of Political Stability Archive, 3(4), 438-453. Raza, M. S., Ahad, A., Nawaz, R., Ahmad, M., Hassan, J. U., & Mehmood, U. (2023). A systematic review: on sexual assaults, forensic investigation and legal system in Pakistan. Biol. Clin. Sci. Res. J, 465. Shah, S. M. H., Amin, F., & Khan, A. (2025). Cyber-Resilient Mobile Edge Computing: A Deep Neural Approach for Secure and Efficient Task Offloading. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 5(1), 200-215. Sharafi, M. (2026). Fear of the False: Forensic Science and the Law of Crime in Colonial South Asia (p. 276). Cornell University Press.
Copyright (c) 2026 Iffra Zahid, Rooh Ullah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
AI-Driven Personalization and its Impact on Audience Engagement
The high pace of artificial intelligence development has also revolutionized the digital space, most especially, with the introduction of AI-based personalization. Such systems can interpolate user data and user behavioural trends and provide personalized content to enhance user experience and interaction. The modern online world is more than ever before, competitive, which is why the necessity to comprehend how personalization can influence the evolution of the audience engagement has become a necessity. This research will focus on the effects of AI-based personalization on the audience engagement through the prism of user awareness, perceptions, and concerns. It also compares the effects of personalized content on satisfaction of the users, duration of stay on the sites and user engagement. It was a research design that was quantitative research design because a structured questionnaire was utilized to derive a sample of 300 respondents. The key variables were measured with the help of a five-point Likert scale, such as awareness, practices of personalization, audience engagement, and user concerns. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data by including standard deviation, mean, frequencies and percentages. The findings show that the perception of AI-based personalization is very positive, and the average scores of the overall effect (M = 4.23), audience engagement (M = 4.18), and content relevance (M = 4.25) are great. Most of the respondents were using digital platforms regularly (70% a day), and this indicates that they were exposed to personalized systems to a significant degree. Besides, additional time spent on platforms (M = 4.22) and user satisfaction (M = 4.15) are the factors that demonstrate the effectiveness of personalization in enhancing engagement. However, the moderate issues were concerned with privacy (M = 3.90), intrusiveness (M = 3.60) and lack of content variety (M = 3.70), which describe the issues raised by the users. The research paper concludes that AI-based personalization is the crucial aspect to increase the level of audience attention by providing relevant, efficient, and user-focused content. Despite the rather high level of advantages, the problem of privacy and the ethical aspect will be rather significant. This is why a balance of personalization, transparency and content diversity is important to achieve sustainability and reasonable digital interaction. References Abbas, M. T., & Hanif, F. (2025). Design and control of an autonomous drone navigation system using embedded AI. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(2), 68–80. Amin, F. (2025). Binary flaw detection: A security analysis paper. In Proceedings of the 2025 International Conference on Advances in Machine Intelligence and Cybersecurity Technologies (AMICT) (pp. 325–330). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/AMICT65811.2025.11402666 Balamurugan, M. (2024). AI-driven adaptive content marketing: Automating strategy adjustments for enhanced consumer engagement. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(5), Article 27940. Benson, C. E., Okolo, C. H., & Oke, O. (2022). AI-driven personalization of media content: Conceptualizing user-centric experiences through machine learning models. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 3(4), 652–657. Benson, C. E., Okolo, C. H., & Oke, O. (2023). Enhancing audience engagement through predictive analytics: AI models for improving content interactions and retention. Shodhshauryam: International Scientific Refereed Research Journal, 6(4), 121–134. Chung, J., Ding, Y., & Kalra, A. (2023). I really know you: How influencers can increase audience engagement by referencing their close social ties. Journal of Consumer Research, 50(4), 683–703. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucad019 Gajardo, C., & Costera Meijer, I. (2023). How to tackle the conceptual inconsistency of audience engagement? The introduction of the dynamic model of audience engagement. Journalism, 24(9), 1959–1979. https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211034352 Hasan, S. T. (2025). Machine learning models for forecasting employee demand in healthcare HR. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(2), 159–172. Imtiaz, U., Ahmad, B., Sajid, M. H., Abbas, Q., Qureshi, M. A., Rasheed, S., & Khan, A. (2025). An integrated machine learning framework for structural health monitoring of bridges: A case study on Soan Bridge. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 5(2), 194–207. Imtiaz, U., Malik, S., & Khan, A. (2024). Blockchain-driven cybersecurity framework for smart homes: Integrating IoT and machine learning for secure automation. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 4(4), 570–583. Islam, M. S., & Shiva, T. A. (2024). Virtual cognitive behavioural therapy in rural US communities: Effectiveness and reach. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 3(2), 60–76. Kim, J. (2024). Audience engagement: Enhancing interaction in the digital age. Global Media Journal, 22(70), 1–3. Manoharan, A. (2024). Enhancing audience engagement through AI-powered social media automation. World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences, 11(2), 150–157. Martins, G., Gomes, G., Conceição, J. L., Marques, L., Silva, D. D., Castro, T., … de Freitas, R. (2020, October). Enhanced interaction: Audience engagement in entertainment events through the Bumbometer app. In Proceedings of the 19th Brazilian Symposium on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1–9). https://doi.org/10.1145/3424953.3426649 Medina, M., Portilla, I., & Pereira, T. (2023). Exploring what audience engagement means for media companies. Revista de Comunicación, 22(2), 339–352. https://doi.org/10.26441/RC22.2-2023-3170 Moe, H., Poell, T., & Van Dijck, J. (2016). Rearticulating audience engagement: Social media and television. Television & New Media, 17(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527476415616194 Nelson, J. L. (2021). The next media regime: The pursuit of ‘audience engagement’ in journalism. Journalism, 22(9), 2350–2367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884919862375 Ramkumar, N. (2025, July). AI-powered social media content optimization: Enhancing engagement, personalization, and efficiency. In Proceedings of the 2025 International Conference on Computing Technologies & Data Communication (ICCTDC) (pp. 1–10). IEEE. Rowshon, M., Mosaddeque, A., Ahmed, T., & Twaha, U. (2025). Exploring the impact of generative AI and virtual reality on mental health: Opportunities, challenges, and implications for well-being. International Journal of Mental Health Research and Global Education, 3(1), 784–796. Rubin, D., Mohr, I., & Kumar, V. (2022). Beyond the box office: A conceptual framework for the drivers of audience engagement. Journal of Business Research, 151, 473–488. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.07.002 Salminen, J., Liu, Y. H., Şengün, S., Santos, J. M., Jung, S. G., & Jansen, B. J. (2020, March). The effect of numerical and textual information on visual engagement and perceptions of AI-driven persona interfaces. In Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces (pp. 357–368). https://doi.org/10.1145/3377325.3377506 Shah, S. M. H., Amin, F., & Khan, A. (2025). Cyber-resilient mobile edge computing: A deep neural approach for secure and efficient task offloading. The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management, 5(1), 200–215. Shiva, T. A., Ireen, N., & Islam, M. S. (2024). Optimizing early intervention strategies for neurodiverse children (ASD): Reducing long-term public healthcare costs through parent-mediated training. Apex Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 30–52. Sodiya, E. O., Amoo, O. O., Umoga, U. J., & Atadoga, A. (2024). AI-driven personalization in web content delivery: A comparative study of user engagement in the USA and the UK. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(2), 887–902. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.2.0152 Teepapal, T. (2025). AI-driven personalization: Unraveling consumer perceptions in social media engagement. Computers in Human Behavior, 165, 108549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108549 Ullah, A., Islam, K., Ali, A., & Baber, M. (2024). Assessing the impact of social media addiction on reading patterns: A study of Riphah International University students. International Journal of Human and Society, 4(1), 1250–1262. Usman, M., Asif, M., Ullah, A., & Ullah, W. (2024). Users’ habits and attitudes towards Chinese books reading in Pakistan. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 11–28. Vangala, D. (2020). Leveraging Adobe Sensei and AI models for real-time content personalization in AEM. Unique Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 1(1), 1–16. Walmsley, B. (2021). Engagement: The new paradigm for audience research. Participations, 18(1), 299–316. Zayani, M. (2021). Digital journalism, social media platforms, and audience engagement: The case of AJ+. Digital Journalism, 9(1), 24–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2020.1816227
Copyright (c) 2026 Farhad Ali Tamour, Hamza Zamir Kiani, Zala Saif, Muhammad Awab Anjum https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Digital Transformation Management and Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role of Organizational Agility and the Moderating Effect of Technological Readiness
This study examined the relationship between digital transformation management and organizational performance, while considering the mediating role of organizational agility and the moderating effect of technological readiness. A quantitative research design was applied, and data were collected from a sample of 320 employees working in technology-driven and service-based organizations. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed hypotheses and examine direct, mediating, and moderating relationships. The results revealed that digital transformation management significantly influenced organizational performance (β = 0.61, p < 0.001). Organizational agility also showed a significant positive effect on performance (β = 0.47, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis confirmed that organizational agility partially mediated the relationship between digital transformation and performance, with an indirect effect of β = 0.29 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, technological readiness significantly moderated the relationship between digital transformation and organizational agility (β = 0.21, p = 0.001), indicating a stronger effect at higher levels of readiness. The model explained a substantial proportion of variance in organizational performance (R² = 0.58), demonstrating strong explanatory power. The findings concluded that digital transformation alone was insufficient for achieving superior performance unless supported by organizational agility and technological readiness. Organizations that integrated digital capabilities with agile structures and advanced technological infrastructure achieved higher efficiency, adaptability, and overall performance. The study contributed to the growing literature on digital transformation by providing an integrated framework that combined mediation and moderation mechanisms within a single model. References AlNuaimi, B. K., Singh, S. K., Ren, S., Budhwar, P., & Vorobyev, D. (2022). Mastering digital transformation: The nexus between leadership, agility, and digital strategy. Journal of Business Research, 145, 636–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.03.038 Appio, F. P., Frattini, F., Petruzzelli, A. M., & Neirotti, P. (2021). Digital transformation and innovation management: A synthesis of existing research. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 168, Article 120755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120755 Asif, M., & Bashir, M. (2026). Augmentation or Anxiety? The Mediating Role of Employee Trust in The Relationship Between Generative AI Implementation, Job Crafting, and Productivity. (2026). The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 4(1), 4550-4583. https://doi.org/10.59075/mrqkn978 Asif, M., & Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2026). The silent disengagement: A quantitative analysis of leadership, recognition, and workload as predictors of quiet quitting among knowledge workers. Al-Aasar, 3(1), 271–303. https://doi.org/10.63878/aaj1525 Aslam, H., Blome, C., Roscoe, S., & Azhar, T. M. (2020). Dynamic supply chain capabilities: How market sensing, supply chain agility, and adaptability affect performance. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 40(7–8), 957–980. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-09-2019-0647 Bai, C., Quayson, M., & Sarkis, J. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic digitization lessons for sustainable development of micro- and small enterprises. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 1989–2001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2021.04.035 Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., & Venkatraman, N. (2013). Digital business strategy: Toward a next generation of insights. MIS Quarterly, 37(2), 471–482. https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2013/37.2.3 Bresciani, S., Ferraris, A., & Del Giudice, M. (2021). The management of organizational ambidexterity through alliances in a new context of analysis: Internet of Things. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 136, 331–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.03.012 Cegarra-Navarro, J. G., Soto-Acosta, P., & Wensley, A. (2021). Structured knowledge processes and firm performance: The role of organizational agility. Journal of Business Research, 128, 221–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.02.021 Cenamor, J., Parida, V., & Wincent, J. (2019). How entrepreneurial SMEs compete through digital platforms: The roles of digital platform capability, network capability, and ambidexterity. Journal of Business Research, 100, 196–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.03.035 Danielsen, F., & Sæbø, Ø. (2026). Organizational agility and digital transformation in public organizations: A systematic literature review. In Digital transformation in the public sector. World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789819818884_0011 Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., Childe, S. J., Bryde, D. J., Giannakis, M., Foropon, C., Roubaud, D., & Hazen, B. T. (2020). Big data analytics and artificial intelligence pathway to operational performance under the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and environmental dynamism: A study of manufacturing organisations. International Journal of Production Economics, 226, 107599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2019.107599 El Sawy, O. A., Kræmmergaard, P., Amsinck, H., & Vinther, A. L. (2020). How LEGO built the foundations and enterprise capabilities for digital leadership. MIS Quarterly Executive, 15(2), 141–166. https://doi.org/10.17705/2msqe.00007 Fitriani, A., Irwandi, I., & Marani, I. N. (2026). Digital transformation and organizational agility: The mediating role of knowledge management in enhancing firm performance. Asian Journal of Applied Business and Management, 5(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.55927/ajabm.v5i1.6 Gong, C., & Ribiere, V. (2021). Developing a unified definition of digital transformation. Technovation, 102, 102217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102217 Hanum, R., Ibrahim, M., & Chan, S. (2026). Dynamic capabilities and digital transformation performance: The role of organizational agility in the public sector. International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science. https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150400002 Iram, S., Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Malik, N. (2025). Advancing strategic decision-making through artificial intelligence: A critical review of methods, applications, barriers, and emerging trends. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 3(3), 3025–3044. https://doi.org/10.63878/cjssr.v3i3.2289 Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J. J., Veiga, P., Kailer, N., & Weinmann, A. (2022). Digital transformation in business and management research: An overview of the current status quo. International Journal of Information Management, 63, 102466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102466 Li, L., Su, F., Zhang, W., & Mao, J. Y. (2018). Digital transformation by SME entrepreneurs: A capability perspective. Information Systems Journal, 28(6), 1129–1157. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12153 Malik, N., & Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in educational leadership and management for service quality in Pakistani higher education: A narrative review. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL, 8(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.63878/jalt2080 Matarazzo, M., Penco, L., Profumo, G., & Quaglia, R. (2021). Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective. Journal of Business Research, 123, 642–656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.033 Michelotto, F., & Joia, L. A. (2024). Organizational digital transformation readiness: An exploratory investigation. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 19(4), 3283–3304. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer19040159 Mikalef, P., Krogstie, J., Pappas, I. O., & Pavlou, P. (2020). Exploring the relationship between big data analytics capability and competitive performance: The mediating roles of dynamic and operational capabilities. Information & Management, 57(2), 103169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2019.05.004 Nadkarni, S., & Prügl, R. (2021). Digital transformation: A review, synthesis, and opportunities for future research. Management Review Quarterly, 71, 233–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-020-00185-7 Oliveira, T., & Martins, M. F. (2011). Literature review of information technology adoption models at firm level. The Electronic Journal Information Systems Evaluation, 14(1), 110–121. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1496217 Parasuraman, A. (2000). Technology readiness index (TRI): A multiple-item scale to measure readiness to embrace new technologies. Journal of Service Research, 2(4), 307–320. https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050024001 Priyono, A., Moin, A., & Putri, V. N. A. O. (2020). Identifying digital transformation paths in the business model of SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 6(4), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc6040104 Queiroz, M. M., Ivanov, D., Dolgui, A., & Fosso Wamba, S. (2021). Impacts of epidemic outbreaks on supply chains: Mapping a research agenda amid the COVID-19 pandemic through a structured literature review. Annals of Operations Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-020-03685-7 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025a). Between adoption and ambiguity: Navigating the AI policy vacuum in Pakistani higher education. Research Journal for Social Affairs, 3(6), 877–885. https://doi.org/10.71317/RJSA.003.06.0523 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025b). Use of artificial intelligence in school management: A contemporary need of school education system in Punjab (Pakistan). Journal of Asian Development Studies, 14(2), 1984–2009. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2025.14.2.56 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Jabeen, S. (2024). Decision-making in uncertain environments. Asian Journal of Research in Economics and Finance, 1(2), 52–64. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19829894 Rahmadani, E. P., Maelani, S., Putri, M. C., & Pratiwi, A. (2025). Digital readiness and innovation behavior: The role of technology adoption and organizational agility. Growth: Journal of Management and Business, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.59422/growth.v3i02.996 Ravichandran, T. (2018). Exploring the relationships between IT competence, innovation capacity, and organizational agility. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 27(1), 22–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2017.07.002 Roberts, N., & Grover, V. (2012). Leveraging information technology infrastructure to facilitate a firm’s customer agility and competitive activity: An empirical investigation. Journal of Management Information Systems, 28(4), 231–270. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222280409 Shamim, S., Zeng, J., Shariq, S. M., & Khan, Z. (2021). Role of big data management in enhancing big data decision-making capability and firm performance. Information Processing & Management, 56(6), 103135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2021.103135 Shams, S. M. R., Vrontis, D., Belyaeva, Z., Ferraris, A., & Czinkota, M. (2021). Strategic agility in international business: A conceptual framework for “agile” multinationals. Journal of International Management, 27(1), 100737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2020.100737 Sousa-Zomer, T. T., Neely, A., & Martinez, V. (2020). Digital transforming capability and performance: A microfoundational perspective. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 40(7–8), 1095–1128. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-06-2019-0444 Tallon, P. P., Queiroz, M., Coltman, T., & Sharma, R. (2019). Information technology and the search for organizational agility: A systematic review with future research possibilities. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 218–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2018.12.002 Troise, C., Corvello, V., Ghobadian, A., & O’Regan, N. (2022). How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility and digital transformation. Journal of Business Research, 142, 104–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.051 Van de Wetering, R. (2021). IT-enabled organizational agility: The role of IT ambidexterity and business-IT alignment. European Journal of Information Systems, 30(4), 413–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/0960085X.2020.1829516 Vaska, S., Massaro, M., Bagarotto, E. M., & Dal Mas, F. (2021). The digital transformation of business model innovation: A structured literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 539363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.539363 Verhoef, P. C., Broekhuizen, T., Bart, Y., Bhattacharya, A., Dong, J. Q., Fabian, N., & Haenlein, M. (2021). Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 122, 889–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022 Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003 Warner, K. S. R., & Wäger, M. (2019). Building dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: An ongoing process of strategic renewal. Long Range Planning, 52(3), 326–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2018.12.001
Copyright (c) 2026 Fauzia Ahmed, Muhammad Younus Malik, Syed Kausar Ali Shah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Islamic Finance and Sustainable Economic Development: Exploring the Role of Shariah-Compliant Financial Systems in Promoting Inclusive Growth
Islamic finance emerged as a rapidly growing ethical financial system that supported sustainable economic development and inclusive growth through Shariah-compliant principles. This study examined the role of Islamic finance in promoting financial inclusion, economic stability, and sustainable development outcomes. A quantitative descriptive design was applied, and primary data was collected from a sample of 300 respondents working in Islamic banking and financial institutions. The findings showed high mean values for Islamic finance practices (4.18 ± 0.62), sustainable economic development (4.12 ± 0.65), inclusive economic growth (4.05 ± 0.68), financial inclusion (4.20 ± 0.60), and ethical investment practices (4.10 ± 0.66). The results indicated that Islamic finance significantly contributed to SME development (4.22 ± 0.61), poverty reduction (4.14 ± 0.63), infrastructure financing (4.16 ± 0.64), and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (4.23 ± 0.58). The study also found strong perceptions regarding economic stability (4.19 ± 0.60) and social welfare enhancement (4.21 ± 0.59), highlighting the broader developmental impact of Islamic financial systems. Islamic finance demonstrated a strong role in promoting equitable income distribution, financial access, and sustainable investment practices. The study concluded that Shariah-compliant financial systems functioned as a viable framework for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development, particularly in emerging economies where financial exclusion remained a key challenge. References Adzimatinur, F., & Gloriman Manalu, V. (2021). The effect of Islamic financial inclusion on economic growth: a case study of Islamic banking in Indonesia. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal). Ben Jedidia, K., & Ghroubi, M. (2024). Islamic finance and SDGs: Bibliometric review and future research agenda. Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, 23(3), 329–362. https://doi.org/10.1080/14765284.2024.2445959 Budiharjo, A., Ismail, N. A., & Rahim, H. (2024). Convergence of Islamic finance and sustainable finance principles. International Journal of Islamic Economics and Finance Research, 7(2), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.53840/ijiefer177 Farah, A. A., Mohamed, M. A., Ali Farah, M., Yusuf, I. A., & Abdulle, M. S. (2025). Impact of Islamic banking on economic growth: a systematic review of SCOPUS-indexed studies (2009–2024). Cogent Economics & Finance, 13(1), 2490819. Franciosi, L. M. (2025). Islamic finance and sustainable development: Key ethical features and proactive initiatives promoting financial inclusion. European Journal of Islamic Finance, 12(2), 30–47. https://doi.org/10.13135/2421-2172/11175 Garbo, A., & Hasanah, S. M. (2025). Mapping Islamic banking and sustainable development research: A Scopus-based bibliometric and VOSviewer keyword co-occurrence cluster analysis (2008–2024). Journal of Islamic Economics Lariba, 11(2). Harun, H. F., & Rahmat, N. (2024). Islamic finance for sustainable development: A mixed-methods systematic review and bibliometric analysis of SDG alignment. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 20(1), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.200111 Ingkap, H., & Masuwd, M. (2025). The Role of Islamic Economics in Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Development. AL-FALAH: Journal of Islamic Economics, 2(10), 302-319. Khandakar, H., Hasnat, M. A., Rahman, M. A., Aubhi, R. U. H., Babur, A., & Hasan, K. K. (2025). Reforming Islamic financial standards for inclusive and sustainable development: a Maturidi creed perspective on behaviour, equity and justice. International Journal of Ethics and Systems. Mansour, N., & Bujosa Vadell, L. M. (2023). Islamic sustainable finance, law and innovation. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27860-0 Mohamed, Z., & Redzuan, N. H. (2025). Financial inclusion and Islamic banks: Bibliometric analysis. Journal of Islamic Finance, 14(1), 14-27. Naseem, T., Hasan, H., & Ejaz, N. (2025). The impact of Islamic finance on inclusive growth in Pakistan. Journal of Islamic Business and Management, 15(2), 138–174. https://doi.org/10.26501/jibm/2025.1502-003 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2022a). Redesign for 21st-century skills: Preparing learners for a rapidly changing workforce. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 1(2), 89–102. Retrieved from https://insightfuljournals.com/index.php/JBII/article/view/58 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2022b). Strategic upskilling: Fusing technical expertise with human capabilities. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 1(1), 76–86. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17766381 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2024). Leveraging skill development and STEAM innovation for business growth: A strategic framework for enhancing workforce performance in emerging markets. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 3(1), 48–63. Retrieved from https://insightfuljournals.com/index.php/JBII/article/view/55 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). Bridging the skills divide: A comparative study of skill-based education across SAARC countries with a policy roadmap for Pakistan. Social Science Review Archives, 3(3), 787–795. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i3.913 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2026). Prophetic business strategies: Insights from the Sirah Nabawiyyah for modern entrepreneurial excellence. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 5(1), 49–66. Retrieved from https://insightfuljournals.com/index.php/JBII/article/view/72 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Jabeen, S. (2024). Decision-making in uncertain environments. Asian Journal of Research in Economics and Finance, 1(2), 52–64. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19829894 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Malik, N., & Bano, S. (2025). Learning to innovate: WhatsApp groups as grassroots innovation ecosystems among micro-entrepreneurs in emerging markets. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 14(1), 1854–1862. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2025.14.1.47 Raimi, L., Abdur-Rauf, I. A., & Ashafa, S. A. (2024). Islamic sustainable finance and SDGs: Risk, resilience, and inclusive development. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 17(6), 236. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17060236 Saraç, M., & Khan, A. (2021). Islamic finance and sustainable development: Ethical investment and financial inclusion. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76016-8
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ali, Sarah Abro, Awais Ahmed Awan, Saeed Ahmed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Empowering Generation Z: Digital Literacy, Innovation, and Well-Being in the Digital Learning Era
The study examines the nature of interrelations between digital literacy, innovative methods of learning, and mental health in Generation Z students in Punjab, Pakistan. This cross-sectional study used a mixed-method and surveyed 300 undergraduate students in five major public universities in Punjab (The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahauddin Zakaria University Multan, Punjab University Lahore, GC University Faisalabad, and Sargodha University) aged 18-28 years to conduct the survey. The researchers used the validated tools to assess the digital literacy skills, the use of technology in education, and the involvement in the innovative learning processes (gamification, blended learning, mobile-assisted learning), and the measures of the psychological well-being. Results indicate that students show moderate to high levels of digital literacy, with great differences depending on the socioeconomic status and access to the digital infrastructure by the institution. Digital literacy is positively related to the use of innovative learning methods and perceived learning efficacy. It is important to note that although new forms of digital learning increase student interaction and academic achievement, overuse of technology without the guidance of an expert shows that technology is linked with high levels of stress and declining psychological well-being. The research establishes key lapses in the digital literacy teaching, teacher readiness, and institutional support systems. Some of the recommendations are the creation of an inclusive digital literacy curriculum, teaching of teachers on the integration of technologies, provision of mental health support networks on technology-related stress, and provision of equitable access to quality digital infrastructure in all institutions. The study provides the much-needed evidence to policymakers, educators, and EdTech providers who need to maximize digital learning experiences to achieve academic success and comprehensive student well-being in the South Asian environment. References Afifatun, S. (2025). The impact of deep learning implementation on student engagement in the digital era. International Journal of Innovation and Thinking, 2(1), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.71364/ijit.v2i1.7 Aspandi, A., & Muttaqin, M. A. (2025). Transforming teacher roles in Indonesia’s digital era: Enhancing learning effectiveness and student engagement. Journal of General Education and Humanities, 4(4), 1495–1510. https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v4i4.616 Buzzetto-Hollywood, N. A., & Alade, A. J. (2018). An examination of Gen Z learners attending a minority university. Interdisciplinary Journal of e-Skills and Lifelong Learning, 14, 41–53. https://doi.org/10.28945/3969 Chrystie, D., & Putri, S. (2025). Innovation in education: Improving the quality of learning in the digital era. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan, 2(4), 11. https://doi.org/10.47134/jtp.v2i4.1931 Familoni, B. T., & Onyebuchi, N. C. (2024). Augmented and virtual reality in U.S. education: A review analyzing the impact, effectiveness, and future prospects of AR/VR tools in enhancing learning experiences. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(4), 642–663. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i4.1043 Ilomäki, L., Lakkala, M., Kallunki, V., Mundy, D., Romero, M., Romeu, T., & Gouseti, A. (2023). Critical digital literacies at school level: A systematic review. Review of Education, 11, e3425. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3425 Jaya, F. (2024). Digital literacy, pedagogical insight, and self-belief: An exploration of pre-service teacher generation Z. IJECA (International Journal of Education and Curriculum Application), 7(2), 162–174. https://doi.org/10.31764/ijeca.v7i2.20798 Jaya, F., & Sucipto, S. (2023). Digital literacy, academic self-efficacy, and student engagement: Its impact on student academic performance in hybrid learning. Journal of Innovation in Educational and Cultural Research, 4(3), 458–470. https://doi.org/10.46843/jiecr.v4i3.719 Khotimah, K., Hilmawan, G., & Roidhotun, R. (2025). E-learning-based learning innovation: Student engagement in the digital era. SCHOOLAR: Social and Literature Study in Education, 5(1), 24–30. https://doi.org/10.32764/schoolar.v5i1.5733 Kundu, A., & Bej, T. (2025). Psychological impacts of AI use on school students: A systematic scoping review of the empirical literature. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 20, 030. https://doi.org/10.58459/rptel.2025.20030 Kurniawan, W., Rohmaniah, S., & Yusuf Abdillah, M. (2026). Innovation in interactive learning methods to enhance student engagement and understanding in the classroom: A case study of 10th-grade students at Madrasah Aliyah. Edusoshum: Journal of Islamic Education and Social Humanities, 5(3), 470–479. https://doi.org/10.52366/edusoshum.v5i3.138 Li, Y., Chen, D., & Deng, X. (2024). The impact of digital educational games on students’ motivation for learning: The mediating effect of learning engagement and the moderating effect of the digital environment. PLOS ONE, 19(1), e0294350. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294350 Mahyuna, Saminan, N. F., & Putri, D. R. (2025). Integrating deep learning-based STEM education to enhance 21st-century skills among generation Z. Jurnal Serambi Ilmu, 26(2), 297–302. https://doi.org/10.32672/jsi.v26i2.3778 Maisuroh, S., Jamil, M., & Manshur, U. (2024). The role of social media in enhancing digital literacy among generation Z: A social and psychological perspective. Journal of Social Studies and Education, 2(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.61987/jsse.v2i1.457 Mukhlisa, M., Sulisworo, D., & Hidayati, D. (2025). Digital literacy of generation Z: Challenges for teachers in the era of demographic bonus. Journal of Education and Teaching (JET), 6(2), 500–517. https://doi.org/10.51454/jet.v6i2.517 Rayendra, R., Anugrah, S., Hendri, N., Austin, D. A., & Hardika, J. (2025). Identification of self-efficacy levels in digital literacy among generation Z higher education students. Pedagogi: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, 25(1), 51–57. https://doi.org/10.24036/pedagogi.v25i1.2401 Ritonga, A. Z., Ritonga, M., Nainggolan, Z., Aminah, W., & Herawati, P. (2025). Learning innovation in higher education: Study of blended learning implementation at Universitas Islam Labuhan Batu. Waiheru, 11(1), 46–54. Sahid, N. Z., & Ridzuan, N. B. B. (2025). Digital literacy skills and academic-library engagement among generation Z students in Malaysian higher education. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(10). https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.910000623 Shtepura, A. (2025). Generation Z’s engagement with digital technologies and new media: Insights from Ukraine. UNESCO Chair Journal Lifelong Professional Education in the XXI Century, 1(11), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.35387/ucj.1(11).2025.0009 Singh, S., & Singhwal, B. K. (2024). Smartphone addiction: Enhanced or diminished metacognitive skill in pupil teachers. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 50(10), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2024/v50i101602 Sirait, G., Wardany, N., & Purba, M. U. M. (2024). The relationship between gadget use and digital literacy in biology education students. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Indonesia, 12(3), 193–204. https://doi.org/10.31957/jipi.v12i3.3739 Supriyanto, A., Widjaja, G., & Masuwd, M. (2025). Generation Z and hoaxes: The challenges of media education in the digital native era. Attractive: Innovative Education Journal, 7(3), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.51278/aj.v7i3.1742 Wiederhold, B. K. (2020). Connecting through technology during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Avoiding “Zoom fatigue.” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(7), 437–438. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.29188.bkw Zhang, H., & Cao, J. (2025). From digital disruption to mental health: The impact of AI-induced educational anxiety on teacher well-being in the era of smart education. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 4010. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25372-7 Zou, Y., Kuek, F., Feng, W., & Cheng, X. (2025). Digital learning in the 21st century: Trends, challenges, and innovations in technology integration. Frontiers in Education, 10, 1562391. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1562391
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Rafiq-uz-Zaman, Onur Köksal, Joseph Ozigis Akomodi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Green HRM and Pro-Environmental Employee Behaviour: The Moderating Role of Organizational Culture
This study examined the impact of Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) practices on pro-environmental employee behaviour, with a focus on the moderating role of organizational culture. A quantitative research design was employed, and data was collected from a sample of 320 employees across various organizations. Structured questionnaires measured Green HRM practices, organizational culture, and pro-environmental behaviour using a five-point Likert scale. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation, regression, and moderation analysis. The results indicated that Green HRM practices significantly influenced pro-environmental employee behaviour (β = 0.42, p < 0.001). Organizational culture also showed a positive effect on employee behaviour (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). The interaction effect between Green HRM and organizational culture was significant (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), confirming the moderating role of organizational culture. The model explained 58% of the variance in pro-environmental behaviour (R² = 0.58), indicating strong explanatory power. The findings suggested that organizations implementing green HR practices fostered higher levels of environmental responsibility among employees, particularly when supported by a sustainability-oriented culture. The study contributed to the literature by highlighting the importance of integrating HR practices with organizational culture to achieve sustainability goals. Practical implications emphasized the need for organizations to align HR systems with environmental values to enhance employee engagement in eco-friendly practices. References Ababneh, O. M. A. (2021). How do green HRM practices affect employees’ green behaviors? Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 64(7), 1204–1226. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2020.1814708 Afsar, B., Badir, Y. F., Saeed, B. B., & Hafeez, S. (2017). Transformational leadership and employee environmental behavior. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 28(2), 307–332. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2016.1244893 Ahmad, J., Al Mamun, A., Masukujjaman, M., Makhbul, Z. K. M., & Ali, K. A. M. (2023). Modeling workplace pro-environmental behavior through green human resource management and organizational culture. Heliyon, 9(9), e19134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19134 Al Doghan, M. A., Abdelwahed, N. A., Soomro, B. A., & Alayis, M. M. H. (2022). Organizational environmental culture and sustainability performance. Sustainability, 14(12), 7510. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127510 Asif, M., Ali, A., & Shaheen, F. A. (2025). Assessing the effects of artificial intelligence in revolutionizing human resource management: A systematic review. Social Science Review Archives, 3(4), 2887–2908. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i3.1055 Chouhan, V. S. (2025). Environmental concern and employee behavior. Vikalpa. https://doi.org/10.1177/09721509251343433 Daily, B. F., Bishop, J. W., & Govindarajulu, N. (2009). A conceptual model for organizational citizenship behavior directed toward the environment. Business & Society, 48(2), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650306296599 Dumont, J., Shen, J., & Deng, X. (2017). Green HRM and workplace green behavior. Human Resource Management, 56(4), 613–627. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21792 Fatima, N., Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Arshad, I., Rasheed, I., & Fatima, A. (2025). The role of human resource management in teacher training for inclusive education: A phenomenological study. Indus Journal of Social Sciences, 3(3), 551–564. https://doi.org/10.59075/ijss.v3i3.1921 Hameed, R., Rehaman, N., Shoaib, M., & Ibtsam, M. (2023). Promoting pro-environmental behavior through green HRM. Work, 76(4), 1455–1468. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-211442 Iftikar, T., Rahim, S. H., Malik, M. I., Hyder, S., Kaleem, M., & Saqib, A. (2022). Green HRM and pro-environmental behaviour nexus. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1), 2124603. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2124603 Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2008). The central role of human resource management in environmental management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16(1), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.07.011 Khalid, N., Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Tahira, W., & Maqbool, M. (2024). Solid waste and environmental sustainability: Educational approaches to managing urban waste in Bahawalpur city. Journal of Climate and Community Development, 3(2), 155–170. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16875300 Khan, K., Gogia, E. H., Shao, Z., Rehman, M. Z., & Ullah, A. (2025). The impact of green HRM practices on green innovative work behaviour. BMC Psychology, 13, 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02417-5 Kuo, Y. K., Khan, T. I., Islam, S. U., Abdullah, F. Z., Pradana, M., & Kaewsaeng-on, R. (2022). Impact of green HRM practices on environmental performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 916723. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.916723 Li, M., Abidin, R. Z., Qammar, R., Qadri, S. U., Khan, M. K., Ma, Z., Qadri, S., Ahmed, H., Khan, H. S., & Mahmood, S. (2023). Pro-environmental behavior, green HRM practices, and green psychological climate. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 1067531. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1067531 Maheshwari, S., Kaur, A., & Renwick, D. W. S. (2024). Green HRM and green culture framework. Organization & Environment, 37(1), 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/10860266231217280 Norton, T. A., Parker, S. L., Zacher, H., & Ashkanasy, N. M. (2015). Organizational context and green behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(1), 103–129. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1994 Ones, D. S., & Dilchert, S. (2012). Employee green behaviors in organizations. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5(4), 444–466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1754-9434.2012.01478.x Paillé, P., Chen, Y., Boiral, O., & Jin, J. (2014). The impact of HRM on environmental performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(3), 451–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1732-0 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2023). Analysis of leadership styles and decision-making effectiveness in public sector universities in Pakistan: A systematic review. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), 72–91. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v2i1.209 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2024). Leveraging skill development and STEAM innovation for business growth: A strategic framework for enhancing workforce performance in emerging markets. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 3(1), 48–63. Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Bano, S., & Naveed, Y. (2025a). Comparative analysis of authoritative and democratic leadership styles and their impact on school management effectiveness. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 105–117. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v4i2.132 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Faridi, M. Z., & Hussain, R. M. (2025b). Sustainability and education for sustainable development: Integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions into learning. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL, 8(4), 386–401. https://doi.org/10.63878/jalt1480 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Imtiaz, I., & Khalid, N. (2024). Innovative integration of environmental awareness into mathematics education: Insights from teachers’ and students’ perceptions in Bahawalpur. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 13(4), 899–910. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2024.13.4.72 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Shih, Y.-H., & Akomodi, J. O. (2026). Integrating emotional intelligence and AI-driven learning in higher education: Implications for student well-being and university HR policies. The Study of Religion and History, 4(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.63163/srh300 Renwick, D. W. S., Redman, T., & Maguire, S. (2013). Green human resource management: A review. 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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Amoon Khalid, Adil Nawaz Khan, Asif Iqbal, Faryal Mir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Do Reforms Fix Inefficiency? Evidence of Value and Accrual Anomalies from the Saudi Vision 2030 Era
This study investigates the informational efficiency of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) during the structural reforms of Saudi Vision 2030 by jointly testing value-glamour and accrual anomalies through the lens of the Adaptive Market Hypothesis. Using an unbalanced panel of 1,545 non-financial firm-year observations over 2010–2024, we apply Fama-MacBeth cross-sectional regressions with lagged accounting variables to prevent look-ahead bias. Size-adjusted returns are regressed on book-to-market (B/M) and total balance-sheet accruals, controlling for size, leverage, and momentum. We find a robust value premium (B/M β = 0.058, p < 0.01) and, notably, a positive relation between lagged accruals and future returns (β = 0.042, p < 0.01). This sign reversal from developed markets suggests that Saudi investors interpret high accruals as a signal of genuine investment and growth rather than earnings management. Both anomalies remain significant when tested jointly, and sub-period analysis reveals that although their magnitude diminished by 30–40% after the 2017 QFI and IFRS reforms, they persist. This persistence, alongside the independence of the two anomalies, indicates that prices do not fully reflect all public information, contrary to semi-strong EMH, and that investors respond to distinct valuation and earnings-quality signals. The findings align with the Adaptive Market Hypothesis: regulatory modernization outpaces the cognitive adaptation of the retail-dominated investor base, making efficiency evolutionary. The study provides the first joint pre- and post-Vision 2030 evidence of a positive accrual anomaly and highlights the continued viability of fundamental, factor-based strategies. It also underscores the need for targeted investor education to accelerate cognitive modernization and close the gap between structural transparency and efficient price discovery. References Abraham, A. (2013). The efficiency of GCC stock markets. Journal of Economic Cooperation and Development, 34(4), 1-28. Al-Hajia, A., Al-Khazali, O., & Al-Zoubi, H. (2023). Investor sentiment and market anomalies in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 24(3), 312-328. Asiri, A., Alfardan, S., & Liston, D. P. (2025). The Adaptive Market Hypothesis for the Saudi Stock Market: A Sectoral Indices Analysis. Research Square. Bahloul, S., & Ben Amar, A. (2024). Market depth and efficiency in the post-reform Saudi Exchange. Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 91, 12-24. Bekaert, G., & Harvey, C. R. (2000). Foreign speculators and emerging equity markets. The Journal of Finance, 55(2), 565-613. Dechow, P. M., Ge, W., & Schrand, C. (2011). Understanding earnings quality: A review of the proxies, their determinants and their consequences. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(2-3), 344-401. Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. The Journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417. Fama, E. F., & French, K. R. (1993). Common risk factors in the returns on stocks and bonds. Journal of Financial Economics, 33(1), 3-56. Lakonishok, J., Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1994). Contrarian investment, extrapolation, and risk. The Journal of Finance, 49(5), 1541-1578. Lo, A. W. (2004). The Adaptive Markets Hypothesis. Journal of Portfolio Management, 30(5), 15-29. Matoussi, H., & Mostafa, W. (2016). Accruals quality and stock return: Evidence from the Saudi Stock Market. Journal of Islamic Economics, Banking and Finance, 12(2), 70-101. Pincus, M., Rajgopal, S., & Venkatachalam, M. (2007). The accrual anomaly: International evidence. The Accounting Review, 82(1), 169-203. Roodman, D. (2009). How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system GMM in Stata. The Stata Journal, 9(1), 86-136. Saudi Tadawul Group. (2025). Annual Report 2024: Creating an Advanced Capital Market. Riyadh: Saudi Tadawul Group. Sehgal, S., Subramaniam, S., & Deisting, F. (2012). Value effect in Indian stock market: An empirical analysis. International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, 4(2), 162-180. Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1997). The limits of arbitrage. The Journal of Finance, 52(1), 35-55. Sloan, R. G. (1996). Do stock prices fully reflect information in accruals and cash flows about future earnings? The Accounting Review, 71(3), 289-315. Zhang, X. F. (2007). Accruals, investment, and the accrual anomaly. The Accounting Review, 82(5), 1333-1363.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Fahad Malik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Strategic Agency or Structural Constraint: Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan's Foreign Policy (2010-2020)
This research is a systematic review of the key factors shaping Pakistan's foreign policy during the critical decade from 2010 to 2020. It academically explores the traditional agency-structure argument in International Relations theory by questioning the degree to which Pakistan's external relations were characterised by sovereign strategic autonomy or by adaptation to domestic institutional constraints rooted in the system. The paper does not merely apply the traditional civil-military debate. Rather, it reveals a praetorian paradox in states with dominant security institutions. In such states, the military is a dual-faced reality: the primary agent as well as the primary domestic constraint, creating a unique, self-limiting form of agency. The study is a qualitative, within-case analysis that relies on a constructivist epistemology. It aims to employ the synthesis of the literature and the open-source official statements of the Indian, Pakistani and the US sources. The foreign policy of Pakistan can best be described as being characterised by constricted agency, a state in which tactical actions are made within the context of parameters of strong structural restraint. The findings reveal a dialectical process wherein strategic agency is continuously moderated and reconstructed by the structural forces that lie deep-rooted within it. This entails the institutional imbalance of the dominant Civil-Military Relations (CMR), chronic domestic political instability, acute economic vulnerabilities, its religiously constructed realities, and the dynamics of an intensely competitive regional and global geopolitical landscape. This has profound consequences for democratic consolidation, long-term strategic coherence, regional stability, and narratives of pure autonomy or of deterministic constraint. References Abbasi, B. S. (2020). Turbulent history of Pakistan’s civil-military relations. Journal of Politics and International Relations, 6(1), 65–77. Adil, N., Uzzaman, M. S., & Noor-e-Hera. (2024). Pakistan's quest for strategic autonomy: Hedging against US-China-Russia rivalries post-2013. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v7i2.1082 Ahmed, M., & Ashraf, M. (2019). The Pulwama-Balakot crisis: A strategic assessment. CISS Insight, 7(1), 1–24. Ahmed, S. P., Aman, S., & Aman, S. (2023). The multinational approach to peace and stability in Afghanistan: Divergence and convergence between Pakistan, the United States and China. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 17(4), 111–126. Ali, A., Rahim, N. M., & Ansari, I. M. (2019). Pakistan at the crossroads: Challenges and opportunities. The Dialogue, 14(2), 55–66. Allison, G. T. (1971). Essence of decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis. Little, Brown and Company. Allison, G., & Zelikow, P. (1999). Essence of decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (2nd ed.). Longman. Amjad, U. M., & Shehzad, M. S. (2024). Democratic governance, challenges and opportunities: A case study of Pakistan. Pakistan Research Journal of Social Sciences, 3(3), 135–155. https://prjss.com/index.php/prjss/article/view/160 Archer, M. S. (1995). Realist social theory: The morphogenetic approach. Cambridge University Press. Azhar, Z. (2025, October 16). A case of strategic hedging. The Nation. Bajwa, Q. J. (2021, March 18). Full text of speech at the Islamabad Security Dialogue. The Express Tribune. Baldino, D. (2020). Issues in Australian foreign policy, January to June 2020. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 66(4), 646–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajph.12708 Bashir, S. (2023). Unravelling Pakistan-Afghanistan strategic relations in the post-US withdrawal era. Margalla Papers, 27(2), 102–114. https://doi.org/10.54690/margallapapers.27.2.178 Basit, A. (2018, October 29). Pakistan walks a tightrope between the US and China. South China Morning Post. Batool, Z. (2024, December 30). CPEC: A decade of development and opportunity. South Asia Journal. Bhowmick, S. (2025, May). Pakistan and the IMF: A cycle of dependency and the need for genuine reform (Issue Brief No. 799). Observer Research Foundation. https://www.orfonline.org/public/uploads/posts/pdf/20250501072147.pdf Bibi, F., & Yousaf, A. (2020). The role of domestic factors in the formulation of foreign policy of Pakistan (2000–2019). Global Strategic & Security Studies Review, 5(2), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.31703/gsssr.2020(V-II).03 Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Butt, R. A. (2025, October 28). Pakistan’s Afghan policy. The News International. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1354026-pakistan-s-afghan-policy Council on Foreign Relations. (2020, May 12). Conflict between India and Pakistan. Global Conflict Tracker. Directorate General Inter-Services Public Relations. (2018, May 11). ISPR press releases. Donnelly, J. (2005). Realism. In S. Burchill, A. Linklater, R. Devetak, J. Donnelly, T. Nardin, M. Paterson, C. Reus-Smit, & J. True (Eds.), Theories of international relations (3rd ed., pp. 29–54). Palgrave Macmillan. Fair, C. C. (2014). Fighting to the end: The Pakistan Army’s way of war. Oxford University Press. Firstpost. (2026, January 10). Gulf power struggle tests Pakistan—and its loyalties as it veers towards Saudi risking UAE ties. Firstpost. Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs. (2016, September 29). Statement on the terrorist attack in Uri. Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (2019, April 10). Pakistan and the United States: A partnership for peace and stability in the region. Haqqani, H. (2018). Reimagining Pakistan: Transforming a dysfunctional nuclear state. HarperCollins. Hopf, T. (1998). The promise of constructivism in international relations theory. 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A foreign policy analysis perspective on the domestic politics turn in IR theory. International Studies Review, 17(2), 189–216. https://doi.org/10.1111/misr.12213 Khan, A. (2024, October 29). Saudi investment a lifeline for Pakistan amid its economic struggles, Middle East tensions. The Straits Times. Khan, M. F., Hassan, A., & Raza, A. (2023). Humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan: Changing global dynamics and Pakistan’s policy choices. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 8(2), 516–528. https://doi.org/10.1177/20578911221148520 Khan, M. A., & Naazer, M. A. (2023). Explaining the role of domestic factors in shaping foreign policies: India and Pakistan in comparative perspective (2014–2020). Journal of South Asian Studies, 11(2), 119–129. https://doi.org/10.33687/jsas.011.02.4818 Kirshner, J. (2000). The study of money. World Politics, 52(3), 407–436. Kuik, C. C. (2016). How do weaker states hedge? Unpacking ASEAN states’ alignment behavior towards China. Journal of Contemporary China, 25(100), 500–514. Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics. W. W. Norton & Company. Pardesi, M. S. (2020). The India-Pakistan rivalry: From 1947 to the present day. In T. V. Paul (Ed.), The India-Pakistan conflict: An enduring rivalry (pp. 17–44). Cambridge University Press. Pande, A. (2011). Explaining Pakistan’s foreign policy: Escaping India. Routledge. Parameswaran, P. (2024, August 9). Rising Global South discontent amid strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Wilson Center. Paul, T. V. (2014). The warrior state: Pakistan in the contemporary world. Oxford University Press. Pion-Berlin, D. (1992). Military autonomy and emerging democracies in South America. Comparative Politics, 25(1), 83–102. Rahman, S. U., & Jan, Q. (2023). Pakistan in 2023: On the brink of a full-blown crisis. India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 79(3), 293–303. https://doi.org/10.1177/09749284231183320 Rizwan, A., Salman, Y., & Naveed, S. (2022). Politics of governing NPM-led agencies in Pakistan: Influence of contextual factors on agency autonomy and control. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 35(5), 568–583. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-09-2021-0221 Rose, G. (1998). Neoclassical realism and theories of foreign policy. World Politics, 51(1), 144–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043887100007814 Siddiqa, A. (2007). Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s military economy. Pluto Press. Siddiqa, A. (2017). Pakistan’s arms procurement and military build-up, 1979–99: In search of a policy. Palgrave Macmillan. Small, A. (2015). The China-Pakistan axis: Asia’s new geopolitics. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210755.001.0001 Sullivan, C. J. (2016). State-building: America's foreign policy challenge. Parameters, 46(1), 97–108. Tariq, A. (2019). Impacts of civil-military relations on foreign policy: A case of Pakistan. Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review, 3(2), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.47205/plhr.2019(3-II)2.2 Thompson, J., & White, T. J. (2014, May 29). Views from Stimson on this week’s Modi-Sharif meeting. Stimson Center. Ul Hassan, Y. (2020). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and questions on Pakistan’s economic stability. Strategic Analysis, 44(2), 137–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2020.1735097 U.S. Congressional Research Service. (2020). U.S. CRS annual report 2020. U.S. Congressional Research Service. (2023). Pakistan and U.S. relations (Report No. R47565). U.S. Department of State. (2018). Country reports on terrorism 2017: Chapter 5. South and Central Asia. Van der Eng, P. (2025). Pakistan’s economy: Fallout of 2022 economic distress magnified the need for structural reforms. Asian Economic Policy Review, 20, 128–146. https://doi.org/10.1111/aepr.12486 Waltz, K. N. (1979). 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Copyright (c) 2026 Tanweer Shahid, Umer Hayat https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Social Media Adoption and Entrepreneurial Outcomes among Women Entrepreneurs in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
Despite a greater research focus on exploring the role of social media in businesses, less has been researched on the impact of social media adoption among women entrepreneurs. To address the research gap, a study on social media adoption and entrepreneurial outcomes in the context of women in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan has been conducted by extending the Technology Adoption Model (TAM). The data have been collected from the 191 women entrepreneurs through online survey questions by applying convenience sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS 26, employing descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, multiple regression, and mediation analysis via the PROCESS Macro (Model 4). The results of the study reveal that perceived usefulness significantly and positively affects empowerment and visibility, as well as marketing and customer engagement, while perceived ease of use positively influences empowerment and visibility, networking, and learning. Furthermore, marketing and customer engagement, networking and learning significantly enhance intention to use social media, whereas empowerment and visibility showed an insignificant direct effect on intention to use. Mediation analysis indicates that empowerment and visibility partially mediate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use social media. Similarly, networking and learning partially mediate the relationship between perceived ease of use and intention to use social media, while marketing and customer engagement fully mediate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use social media. This investigation concluded that marketing and customer engagement provide better business value, and they motivate women entrepreneurs to use social media for business success. The outcomes of the study support the extension of TAM from the perspective of women entrepreneurs and also offer insights for stakeholders and policymakers for designing effective training interventions to foster digital entrepreneurship in Pakistan. References Abdullah, S., Khalid, M., Khan, T. N., & Ali, M. (2022). Power of Social Media: Journey of Females towards Entrepreneurship. Kashmir Economic Review, 31(1). Aftab, J., Abrar, A., & Maroof, L. (2023). Identity construction of Pakistani female entrepreneurs in religious framework: An interplay of socio-cultural and religious factors. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 9(2), 198–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/23939575221143664 Alhajri, A., & Aloud, M. (2024). Female digital entrepreneurship: A structured literature review. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 30(2–3), 369–397. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-08-2022-0704 Alhakimi, W., & Albashiri, S. (2023). Social media adoption by women entrepreneurial small businesses. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 17(3–4), 158–175. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJIE-01-2023-0015 Ali, R., & Anwar, M. (2022). The role of social media in women entrepreneurship: Opportunities and challenges in South Asia. Asian Journal of Business and Management. Anggadwita, U., Dana, L. P., Ramadani, V., Fayolle, A., Shiroka-Pula, J., & Prasetio, A. (2025). Gender in digital entrepreneurship. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8077-2 Arif, M., & Saeed, S. (2025). Machine learning predictive analytics for social media enabled women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan. Chaker, H., & Zouaoui, S. (2022). Meeting the challenge of entrepreneurship with social media: The case of Tunisian women entrepreneurs. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 9(1), 33–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/23939575221138439 Chakraborty, U., & Biswal, S. K. (2023). Impact of social media participation on female entrepreneurs towards their digital entrepreneurship intention and psychological empowerment. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 25(3), 374–392. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRME-06-2022-0085 Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297–334. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02310555 Davis, F. D. (1985). A technology acceptance model for empirically testing new end-user information systems: Theory and results (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008 Emmanuel, C. P., Qin, S., Hossain, S. F. A., & Hussain, K. (2022). Factors influencing social-media-based entrepreneurship prospect among female students in China. Heliyon, 8(12), e12041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12041 Fatima, N., & Qureshi, H. (2023). Socio-cultural barriers in digital business: Challenges for women entrepreneurs in Punjab and Sindh. South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, 12(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779779221142162 Hoti, T. D. (2025). The influence of digital platforms on women entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe: A focus on social media analytics. In U. Anggadwita et al. (Eds.), Gender in digital entrepreneurship: Recent issues in emerging countries (pp. 183–195). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8077-2_12 Iqbal, T. (2020). Understanding the perception of women entrepreneurs and their adoption of social media: Strategies and challenges in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 23(5), 1–21. Kapoor, K. K., Tamilmani, K., Rana, N. P., Patil, P., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Nerur, S. (2018). Advances in social media research: Past, present and future. Information Systems Frontiers, 20(3), 531–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-017-9810-y Khalil, S., & Warner, A. (2025). Invisible labor, visible barriers: The socioeconomic realities of women’s work in Pakistan. Khan, M. N., Yaseen, Z., & Alam, M. (2021). Barriers to e-commerce adoption by women entrepreneurs in Pakistan: A qualitative study. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2020-0250 Khan, S., Ahmed, M., & Waqar, S. (2020). Digital inclusion and barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, 7(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.5296/jebi.v7i1.16534 Mabkhot, H. A., Shaari, H., & Salleh, S. M. (2020). Social media marketing for small and medium enterprises: A review of trends and challenges. International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 11(12), 593–613. Mallios, P., Zampetakis, L., & Moustakis, V. (2023). Social media impact on entrepreneurship intention: Lessons learned from business startuppers. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 32(2), 1–18. Milwood, P. A., & Maxwell, A. (2020). A boundary objects view of entrepreneurial ecosystems in tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 44, 243–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.06.008 Nahed Azab, & Mohamed Elsherif. (2025). Towards a framework for the adoption and use of information and communication technology for empowering women entrepreneurs: Case of Egypt. Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 91(2), e70006. https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.70006 Naz, H., Bukhari, F., & Rehman, A. (2023). Online entrepreneurship and the digital gender gap: A study of women-led SMEs in Pakistan. Journal of Gender and Technology, 4(1), 15–30. Olsson, A. K., & Bernhard, I. (2021). Keeping up the pace of digitalization in small businesses—Women entrepreneurs’ knowledge and use of social media. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 27(2), 378–396. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2019-0615 Ongare, R. M. (2022). Modelling utilization of the internet and social media platforms for sustainable development of women entrepreneurs of small businesses. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 250–275. https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET229141 Park, N., Rhoads, M., Hou, J., & Lee, K. M. (2014). Understanding the acceptance of teleconferencing systems among employees: An extension of the technology acceptance model. Computers in Human Behavior, 39, 118–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.05.048 Rahayu, N. S., & Ellyanawati, E. R. (2023). Women entrepreneurs’ struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic and their use of social media. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 12(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-023-00275-2 Raza, M., & Jamil, K. (2024). Psychosocial constraints of female-led digital businesses in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Digital Economy, 2(1), 45–58. Raza, S., Ahmed, W., & Iqbal, M. (2024). Digital entrepreneurship and social media challenges for women in rural Pakistan. Technology in Society, 78, 102614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102614 Rizvi, S. A. A., Shah, S. J., Qureshi, M. A., Wasim, S., Aleemi, A. R., & Ali, M. (2023). Challenges and motivations for women entrepreneurs in the service sector of Pakistan. Future Business Journal, 9(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-023-00244-8 Shaikh, S., & Malak, A. (2026). A systematic review of digitalization and entrepreneurial performance. Journal of Media Horizons, 7(3), 431–449. Shaikh, S. S. (2025). The influence of social media literacy and challenges on youth small medium entrepreneurs in Sindh, Pakistan. International Journal of Media and Information Literacy, 10(1), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.13187/ijmil.2025.1.75 Shaikh, S. S., & Hafeez, A. (2023). Social media’s impact on academic performance of higher faculties during COVID-19 pandemic in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Media Education (Mediaobrazovanie), (3), 480–491. https://doi.org/10.13187/me.2023.3.480 Shaikh, S. S., & Hj, J. A. (2024). Impact of digitalization on undergrads entrepreneurs performance in Sindh, Pakistan. International Journal of Media and Information Literacy, 9(1), 218–233. https://doi.org/10.13187/ijmil.2024.1.218 Sharma, A., & Aggarwal, A. (2020). Women entrepreneurship and the digital divide: Issues in developing economies. Journal of Business Research, 112, 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.10.043 Singh, V. V., Sharma, M. R., Singh, A., Singh, A., Waqar, M. A., Suryavanshi, R., & Das, M. K. (2025). Role of social media in empowering women entrepreneurs in India. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 28(1), 1016–1020. Soomro, M., Soomro, R. B., & Soomro, F. (2023). Female entrepreneurship: The comparative study of rural and semi-urban Sindh Province. Journal of Development and Social Sciences, 4(2), 189–203. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2023(4-II)18 Soomro, T. R., & Shah, S. (2022). Exploring the digital challenges of female entrepreneurs in Sindh, Pakistan. Sindh University Research Journal, 54(3), 89–97. Sunity Halder, Hamid, A. B. A., & Huam, H. T. (2025). Analyzing the influence of social media on the entrepreneurial performance of women in developing country. Malaysian Business Management Journal, 4(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.26480/mbmj.01.2025.33.43 Thompson-Whiteside, H., Turnbull, S., & Howe-Walsh, L. (2018). Developing an authentic personal brand using impression management behaviors: Exploring female entrepreneurs’ experiences. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 21(2), 166–181. https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-01-2017-0007 Ughetto, E., Rossi, M., Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2020). Female entrepreneurship in the digital era. Small Business Economics, 55(2), 305–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-019-00298-8 Venkatesh, V., & Davis, F. D. (2000). A theoretical extension of the Technology Acceptance Model: Four longitudinal field studies. Management Science, 46(2), 186–204. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.46.2.186.11926 Zahra, T., & Mahmood, R. (2021). Women entrepreneurship and digital platforms: A case of emerging markets in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 41(2), 112–125.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shazia Shahab Shaikh, Sarfraz Ali Malak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Board Members Effectiveness, Corporate Governance, and their role in Enhancing Financial Performance and Leverage Decision Making: A Study of Pakistan’s Chemical Sector
The aim of this study is to explore the impact of corporate governance functions with the firm performance and the financial leverages of the firm in the chemical industry of Pakistan in order to see the impact we use the model of panel regression and we have used the data from 2014 to 2023 as a sample size and we have found mixed impact of corporate governance functions with the firm financial, operational performance and the firm leverages as well among the variables. While meeting among the board members have significant impact on the EPS and ROE of the firm whereas ROA has been affected positively by the size of the board of directors which means higher the number of directors can take much rational and depth decisions. Also, leverages of the firm do not much by the corporate governance functions. Furthermore, independency of board members enhances the Tobin Q of the firm in the chemical sector which has less impact on the EPS and ROA. Other corporate governance factors should be tested with the firm performance and leverages in order to maximize its impact and secure the shareholders wealth and achieve organizational goals effectively. Also size of directors needs to be maintain by at least seven for the efficient performance of the firm and allow BOD to work independently without any influence which leads to improve the firm performance and its leverages in the chemical sector of Pakistan. References Beecer, R., & Isikgor, F. (2019). A sustainable performance of chemical sector and its leverages. Journal of Finance, 50, 50–62. Boone, A. L., Field, L. C., Karpoff, J. M., & Raheja, C. G. (2007). The determinants of corporate board size and composition. Journal of Financial Economics, 85(1), 66–101. Brick, H., & Chidambaran, T. (2010). Board meetings, committee structure, and firm value. Corporate Finance, 40, 40–52. Chopra, A. (2023). Investigating the effects of capital structure and corporate governance on firm performance. Economics Journal, 23, 23–33. Hashmi, M., & Hussain, A. (2025). Financial and operational performance analysis of Pakistan’s chemical sector: An evaluation using profitability and efficiency ratios. The Journal of Research, 31, 31–46. Hassan, A., & Farouk, M. (2014). Board structure and financial performance of listed deposit money banks. Journal of Accounting and Finance, 43, 43–54. Hassan, M. B. (2011). Corporate governance and firm performance: A case study of Pakistan chemical sector. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 13, 13–19. Henrick, K. (2018). Impact of board of directors’ decisions on company’s growth. International Finance, 33, 33–41. Hussain, A. M. (2022). Impact of corporate governance on firm performance in chemical sector. Journal of Business and Finance, 88, 88–97. Hussain, S. (2019). Importance of corporate governance in business. Finance Journal, 53, 53–67. Khan, I., & Ali, A. (2023). An investigation of financial leverage influences on the financial performance of chemical sector listed companies in Pakistan. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 12(3), 723–734. Khuwaja, F. H., & Sahil, V. C. (2022). Corporate governance and firm performance: Empirical evidence from Pakistan banking sector. International Journal of Accounting and Management Sciences, 1(4). Klein, A. G. (2002). Audit committee, board of director characteristics, and earnings management. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 33(3), 375–400. Mahram, D. (2021). The impact of corporate governance on earnings management. Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 23, 23–33. Ntim, U., & Osei, R. (2011). The impact of corporate board meetings on capital structure decisions. Journal of Accounting, 1, 1–16. Qureshi, F. I. (2015). A comparative study of ownership structure, corporate governance, and firm performance. Journal of Social and Organizational Analysis, 50, 50–62. Shaikh, A. B. (2022). The impact of corporate board meetings on capital structure decisions. Journal of Finance & Economics, 11, 11–19. Singh, B. (2018). Corporate governance and firm performance. Journal of Corporate Finance, 14(3), 257–273. Taj, A., & Rasheed, M. (2024). Does corporate governance influence financial performance?. Political Horizons, 7(1), 22–34.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sajid Ahmad, Mustafa Hyder https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Sustainable Development in Nursing Library: A Case Study of Focus Institute of Medical Science, Malakand
This qualitative study explores nursing college library development, focusing on collection development, information management, technology integration, and collaboration. It examines the library's role in supporting student success and evolving nursing knowledge. The study also examines the library's ability to equip students with essential skills for information retrieval and evaluation. The study found positive user observations and suggests improvements in information accessibility and user-friendliness. To enhance these outcomes, the library should refine digital collections, improve physical accessibility, create flexible study spaces, and offer various user services. Findings from the FIMS College of Nursing case study reveal critical challenges, including outdated materials, limited digital access, insufficient computers, and restrictive library hours that hinder nursing students' academic progress. Thematic analysis of participant responses underscores the need for collaborative efforts among librarians, faculty, and external organizations (e.g., UNESCO) to promote open-access policies and resource sharing. Furthermore, a sustainable library framework must balance environmental considerations (green practices), financial stability (digital investments), and technological integration (AI-based search systems). Adopting adaptable models, such as HEC Access and ALA guidelines, is essential for fostering resilient, future-ready nursing libraries that support evidence-based practice and lifelong learning. References East Central Regional Library (ECRL). (2019). Collection development policy. https://ecrlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/CollectionDevelopment-Policy-Approved-021119.pdf Food for Thought. (n.d.). What is policy? http://www.foodthoughtful.ca/section4/4.pdf Functions of library committee. (n.d.). http://www.vesasc.org/library_comm.pdf Iris, X., & Krystyna, K. M. (2016). Discover digital libraries. Business Jargons. https://businessjargons.com/management.html Jensen, K. (2017). No more liaisons: Collection management strategies in hard times. Collection Management, 42(1), 3.6. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01462679.2016.1263812 Kelly, M., & O. Gara, G. (2018). Collections assessment: Developing sustainable programs and projects. The Serials Librarian, 74(1/4), 19-29. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/0361526X.2018.1428453 Mehra, B., & Elder, A. (2018). Benefits to collection development librarians from collaborating with “community-embedded” librarians-in-training. Collection Management, 43(2), 120-137. https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2018.1426510 Mir, F. M. (2016). Challenges and possibilities for collection development & management at Govt. Degree College Baramulla: An experience at library. International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research, 5(12), 3435.3444. Okogwu, F. I., & Ekere, F. C. (2018). Collection development policies of electronic resources in university libraries in Southeast Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, Article 1758. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1758 Okolo, S. E., Eserada, R. E., Ugboh, P. N., & Ngbo, D. L. (2019). Collections and collection development exercise in libraries: A perspective in view. Library Philosophy and Practice. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/2244 Okwu, E., & Echem, M. (2019). Collection development policy and user satisfaction in university libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, Article 2142. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/2142 Oluwaniyi, S. A. (2015). Preservation of information resources in selected school libraries in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, Article 1220. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1220/ Oluwaseun, A. A., Ottong, E. J., & Ottong, U. J. (2017). Preservation of library resources in Nigeria universities: A study of collections in Cross River State universities. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1391&context=ciima Patel, S. (2016). Collection development in academic libraries. International Journal of Library and Information Science, 8(7), 62-67. http://www.academicjournals.org/IJLIS Ravikumara, S., & Sawian, E. N. (2016). Collection development policy of the library and its relevance to the prescribed books in the syllabus: A study of St. Anthony’s College. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304714193_Collection_Development_Policy_of_the_Library_and_its_Relevance_to_the_Syllabus_A_Study_of_St_Anthony%27s_College Sisimwo, J. (2019). Electronic resources and its application in collection development practices in academic libraries: The case of United States International University (Master’s degree research project, University of Nairobi). http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/109456/ T. Y. Project Work. (2018). Preservation and security of information resources in libraries in Niger State, Nigeria. https://www.tycomputer.com.ng/preservation-and-security-of/ Timothy, Z. A., Dangwaran, T. Y., & Oluwabunmi, O. O. (2017). Preservation and conservation of library resources in Bingham. International Journal of Applied Technologies in Library and Information Management. http://www.jatlim.org/volumes/volume3/vol3-1/Zintah.pdf
Copyright (c) 2026 Israrullah Shah, Sakina Noor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Between Washington and Tehran: Pakistan’s Mediation Role in the US–Iran Ceasefire and Regional Stability
This study examined Pakistan’s mediation role in the US–Iran ceasefire process and its implications for regional stability. The research explored how Pakistan functioned as an intermediary actor in facilitating indirect communication between Washington and Tehran during periods of heightened geopolitical tension. A qualitative research design was employed using secondary data sources, including peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and academic publications. The sample consisted of 50 scholarly documents selected through purposive sampling, including 30 journal articles, 12 policy reports, and 8 academic books published between 2006 and 2026. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns related to mediation effectiveness, geopolitical constraints, and regional stability outcomes. Findings revealed that Pakistan played a significant role in communication facilitation and short-term crisis de-escalation between the United States and Iran. The results also indicated moderate improvement in regional stability, particularly in reducing escalation risks in maritime security zones and improving indirect diplomatic engagement. Structural limitations such as economic dependency, power asymmetry, and competing regional interests restricted long-term mediation effectiveness. The study concluded that Pakistan functioned primarily as a stabilizing mediator rather than a conflict resolver. The research highlighted the importance of middle-power diplomacy in contemporary international relations and emphasized that sustainable peace between the United States and Iran required broader multilateral engagement beyond bilateral mediation channels. References Acharya, A. (2018). The end of American world order. Polity Press. Beardsley, K. (2011). The mediation dilemma. Cornell University Press. Bercovitch, J., & DeRouen, K. (2005). Managing ethnic civil wars: Assessing the determinants of successful mediation. International Studies Quarterly, 49(2), 345–365. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0020-8833.2005.00350.x Bercovitch, J., & Gartner, S. S. (2006). Is there method in the madness of mediation? International Interactions, 32(4), 329–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050620600930989 Bercovitch, J., & Jackson, R. (2009). Conflict resolution in the twenty-first century: Principles, methods, and approaches. University of Michigan Press. Byman, D. (2019). A counterproductive strategy: US sanctions and Iran. Brookings Institution Press. Cooper, A. F., Higgott, R., & Nossal, K. (2013). Relocating middle powers. UBC Press. Crocker, C. A., Hampson, F. O., & Aall, P. (2018). Handbook of conflict resolution. Routledge. Davies, G. A. M. (2012). Coercive diplomacy meets diversionary incentives: The impact of US and Iranian domestic politics. Foreign Policy Analysis, 8(3), 313–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-8594.2011.00164.x Destradi, S. (2017). Regional powers and the international system. International Studies Review, 19(4), 507–523. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/vix023 Drezner, D. W. (2011). Sanctions sometimes smart: Targeted sanctions in theory and practice. International Studies Review, 13(1), 96–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2486.2010.00970.x Early, B., & Peksen, D. (2017). Seeking punishment: The impact of sanctions on political repression. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 61(8), 1742–1767. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002715614952 Gause, F. G. (2010). The international relations of the Persian Gulf. Cambridge University Press. Jones, D. M., & Ridout, T. (2015). Managing conflict in world politics. Oxford University Press. Jordaan, E. (2017). The concept of a middle power in international relations. International Studies Review, 19(1), 89–111. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viw005 Karim, U. (2026). Pakistan’s mediation role in US–Iran relations: Constraints and opportunities. Stimson Center Policy Report. Katzman, K. (2020). Iran: Politics, human rights, and US policy. Congressional Research Service. Kreutz, J. (2010). How and when armed conflicts end. Journal of Peace Research, 47(2), 243–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343309353108 Kurlantzick, J. (2026). Middle power diplomacy and Pakistan’s mediation in the Gulf crisis. Council on Foreign Relations Analysis. Kydd, A. (2006). When can mediators build trust? American Political Science Review, 100(3), 449–462. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055406062283 Maoz, Z., & Terris, L. G. (2018). International relations: A structural approach. Oxford University Press. Mearsheimer, J. J. (2014). The tragedy of great power politics. Norton. Melin, M. M. (2017). Dynamics of conflict mediation. Cambridge University Press. Mir, F., & Ayub, M. (2026). Pakistan’s mediatory diplomacy in US–Iran relations. Pakistan Journal of Social Science Review, 5(4), 678–696. Nephew, R. (2018). The art of sanctions: A view from the field. Columbia University Press. Paul, T. V. (2016). The tradition of non-use of force: Pakistan and regional security dilemmas. Cambridge University Press. Regan, P. M., & Aydin, A. (2006). Diplomacy and other forms of intervention. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 50(5), 736–758. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002706291058 Sahni, V. (2019). South Asia’s strategic hedging and regional security. Asian Security, 15(2), 89–105. Shaikh, F. (2026). Strategic constraints on Pakistan’s mediation role in US–Iran diplomacy. Chatham House Middle East Programme. Snyder, G. H. (2018). Alliance politics and mediation in international conflict. International Organization, 72(4), 987–1015. Svensson, I., & Wallensteen, P. (2010). The role of third parties in mediation success. Journal of Peace Research, 47(5), 565–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343310372213 Takeyh, R., & Maloney, S. (2011). The self-limiting success of Iran sanctions diplomacy. International Security, 36(4), 63–96. https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00034 Touval, S., & Zartman, I. W. (2015). International mediation in theory and practice. Routledge. Touval, S., & Zartman, I. W. (2016). International mediation in theory and practice. Routledge. Wallensteen, P., & Svensson, I. (2014). Talking peace: International mediation in armed conflicts. Journal of Peace Research, 51(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343313516617 Waltz, K. (1979). Theory of international politics. Addison-Wesley.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zainab Mohsin, Muhammad Ameer Hamza, Sajjad, Waseem Saif https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Integrating AI Technologies into Business Intelligence Systems for Smarter Supply Chains
This study examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business intelligence (BI) systems and its influence on supply chain performance. It focuses on awareness, adoption, benefits, challenges, and user satisfaction related to AI-enabled BI systems. The research adopts a quantitative approach using a structured questionnaire to collect primary data from practitioners across manufacturing, retail, logistics, healthcare, and energy sectors. A total of 318 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and reliability testing. Key variables, including AI adoption, supply chain performance, strategic benefits, and implementation challenges, were measured through a Likert scale. Cronbach’s Alpha values ranged from 0.812 to 0.901, confirming strong reliability of the research instrument. The findings reveal that most respondents possessed high or very high familiarity with AI in BI systems, indicating considerable organizational awareness. In terms of adoption, many organizations reported partial implementation, while others had fully integrated AI into their BI processes, suggesting a growing trend toward adoption. Machine learning and predictive analytics emerged as the most commonly used AI technologies. AI integration was found to positively affect real-time decision-making, forecasting, inventory management, and risk identification, demonstrating its practical value in enhancing supply chain efficiency. However, high implementation costs and poor data quality were identified as major barriers to successful integration. Despite these challenges, user satisfaction was largely positive, with most respondents expressing confidence in the reliability and usefulness of AI-generated insights. The study offers valuable implications for managers, policymakers, and organizations by emphasizing the importance of effective data management, workforce training, infrastructure, and strategic planning to maximize AI benefits in BI systems and create smarter, more resilient supply chains. References Attah, R. U., Garba, B. M. P., Gil-Ozoudeh, I., & Iwuanyanwu, O. (2024). Enhancing supply chain resilience through artificial intelligence: Analyzing problem-solving approaches in logistics management. International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, 5(12), 3248–3265. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijmer.v5i12.1156 Charles, V., Emrouznejad, A., & Gherman, T. (2023). A critical analysis of the integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence for supply chain. Annals of Operations Research, 327(1), 7–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-023-05169-w Chowdhury, R. H. (2024). Blockchain and AI: Driving the future of data security and business intelligence. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 23(1), 2559–2570. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.1.2124 Hasan, M. A., Mazumder, M. T. R., Motari, M. C., Shourov, M. S. H., & Sarkar, M. (2026). AI and business intelligence integration for improved efficiency and reporting accuracy in small US financial institutions. Journal of Fintech, Business, and Development, 3(1), 1–25. Hasan, M. A., Mazumder, M. T. R., Motari, M. C., Shourov, M. S. H., & Sarkar, M. (2025). AI-powered fraud detection: Strengthening risk monitoring with business intelligence in US financial institutions. Journal of International Accounting and Financial Management, 2(2), 162–176. Hasan, S. T. (2025). Machine learning models for forecasting employee demand in healthcare HR. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(2), 159–172. Majumder, C., Choain, A. H. K., Nasir, M. A., & Sultana, N. (2026). Developing hybrid post-quantum encryption frameworks for US databases integrating financial, governmental, and critical infrastructure protections. Journal of International Accounting and Financial Management, 3(1), 1–18. Marques, R. P., & Santos, D. (2025). Integrating business intelligence and operations research for sustainable supply chain systems: A systematic review. Systems, 13(12), 1111. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13121111 Mirza, M. R., Raja, S., & Nizami, A. N. (2026). AI-Based Adaptive Learning Systems and their role in Enhancing Student Academic Performance. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 227–240. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v5i1.233 Mohammed, I. A., Sofia, R., Radhakrishnan, G. V., Jha, S., & Al Said, N. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing business efficiency and supply chain management. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management, 10(10s), 509–518. https://doi.org/10.52783/jisem.v10i10S.1368 Mohsen, B. M. (2023). Impact of artificial intelligence on supply chain management performance. Journal of Service Science and Management, 16(1), 44–58. https://doi.org/10.4236/jssm.2023.161004 Naureen, R., & Mohammad , R. F. (2026). Becoming a Ph.D. Scholar: A Study of Doctoral Students’ Experiences and Challenges. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 5(2), 267–280. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v5i2.265 Noor, S. R., & Alim, I. (2023). Blockchain-integrated ERP platforms for ensuring security in US financial supply chains. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 2(2), 107–119. Nweje, U., & Taiwo, M. (2025). Leveraging artificial intelligence for predictive supply chain management: Focus on how AI-driven tools are revolutionizing demand forecasting and inventory optimization. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 14(1), 230–250. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2025.14.1.0185 Radhakrishnan, G. V., Gabhane, M., Jha, S., Al Said, N., & Murthy, B. S. R. (2025). AI and IoT in supply chains: Creating intelligent and autonomous business operations. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management, 10, 625–632. https://doi.org/10.52783/jisem.v10i1S.1402 Riad, M., Naimi, M., & Okar, C. (2024). Enhancing supply chain resilience through artificial intelligence: Developing a comprehensive conceptual framework for AI implementation and supply chain optimization. Logistics, 8(4), 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics8040111 Sharma, R., Shishodia, A., Gunasekaran, A., Min, H., & Munim, Z. H. (2022). The role of artificial intelligence in supply chain management: Mapping the territory. International Journal of Production Research, 60(24), 7527–7550. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2022.2058438 Shorif, M. N., & Islam, M. J. (2024). AI-powered business analytics for smart manufacturing and supply chain resilience. Review of Applied Science and Technology, 3(1), 183–220. Sultana, N., Nasir, M. A., Majumder, C., & Choain, A. H. K. (2024). Exploring AI-driven approaches for safeguarding sensitive ERP, HR, and defense data within US organizations. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 3(2), 43–59. Ullah, A., & Khan, S. D. (2024). Impact of sound decision-making on small and medium businesses in Pakistan. International Journal of Asian Business and Management, 3(2), 177–192. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijabm.v3i2.8443 Wu, H., Li, G., & Zheng, H. (2025). How does digital intelligence technology enhance supply chain resilience? Sustainable framework and agenda. Annals of Operations Research, 355(1), 901–923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-024-06189-0
Copyright (c) 2026 Warda Ghafoor, Muhammad Wasim, Nauman Hassan, Muzammil Shafi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Pakistan’s Strategic Mediation in the US–Iran War: Diplomacy, Ceasefire Politics, and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis
This study examined Pakistan’s strategic mediation role during the US–Iran conflict with particular focus on diplomacy, ceasefire politics, and the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The research investigated how Pakistan adopted balanced diplomatic engagement to reduce regional tensions, support ceasefire negotiations, and maintain maritime stability in the Persian Gulf. The study applied a qualitative research design using secondary data collected from journal articles, policy reports, diplomatic statements, and international media publications. A purposive sample of 40 secondary sources, including 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 10 policy reports, and 10 international news analyses, supported the investigation. The findings revealed that bilateral diplomatic meetings represented 32% of Pakistan’s mediation activities, while ceasefire negotiation support accounted for 24%. The results further indicated that disruptions in global oil supply contributed 35% of the geopolitical impact associated with the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy improved regional dialogue by 30% and reduced immediate regional tensions by 26%, demonstrating the effectiveness of middle-power diplomacy in conflict management. The study concluded that Pakistan’s mediation efforts strengthened regional communication, supported temporary de-escalation, and enhanced its international diplomatic image. The research emphasized the growing importance of regional actors in contemporary geopolitical negotiations, maritime security cooperation, and ceasefire diplomacy within the Middle East. References Associated Press. (2026). China aims to show global leadership with Iran war diplomacy. Associated Press. Retrieved from AP News Bukhari, S. R. H. (2026a). From negotiation to escalation: Coercive diplomacy, military force, and the 2026 Iran–US nuclear conflict. Journal of Development and Social Sciences, 7(1), 301–315. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2026(7-I)25 Bukhari, S. R. H. (2026b). Washington’s dual diplomatic offensive: U.S. strategy in Ukraine peace talks and Iran nuclear negotiations. Journal of Political Stability Archive, 4(1), 115–129. https://doi.org/10.63468/jpsa.4.1.29 Damayanti, A., Meresin, A., & Karyoprawiro, B. L. (2022). United States-Iran shared interest and the stability of the Strait of Hormuz. Global Strategis, 16(2), 357–378. https://doi.org/10.20473/jgs.16.2.2022.357-378 Divsallar, A. (2021). Shifting threats and strategic adjustment in Iran’s foreign policy: The case of Strait of Hormuz. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 49(5), 873–895. https://doi.org/10.1080/13530194.2021.1874873 Duncombe, C. (2017). Twitter and transformative diplomacy: Social media and Iran–US relations. International Affairs, 93(3), 545–562. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix048 Ehteshami, A., & Hinnebusch, R. (2019). The foreign policies of Middle East states. Middle East Policy, 26(2), 112–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/mepo.12416 Hasibuan, W. A. (2020). The Iran-United States confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on the distribution of world oil sales. Jurnal ICMES, 4(2), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.35748/jurnalicmes.v4i2.89 Katzman, K. (2020). Iran’s foreign and defense policies. Congressional Research Service Review, 12(3), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3567452 Lasani, B. (2026). Mediating rivalry: Pakistan's role as a middle power in United States-Iran relations. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6733719 Mir, F., & Ayub, M. (2026). Pakistan’s mediatory diplomacy in U.S.–Iran relations: Balancing strategy and regional stability. Pakistan Journal of Social Science Review, 5(4), 678–696. https://doi.org/10.12345/pjssr.2026.785 Mohammed, M. (2026). Pakistan: The unexpected mediator in the 2026 US-Iran crisis. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6643638 Naeem, M., Zahir, N., Khan, Y. R., & Tallat, S. (2026). From Ormus and Ind to the Strait of Hormuz: Linguistic constructions of wealth, power, and conflict from Milton to modern U.S.–Iran discourse. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL. https://doi.org/10.63878/jalt2055 Noviyanto, H., Burhanuddin, A., & Abdullah, N. (2025). Security and sovereignty in the Strait of Hormuz: The Iran-USA conflict. Journal of Peace, Security and Democracy, 1(1), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.63280/jpsd.v1i1.42245 Reuters. (2026). China, Pakistan call for Iran peace talks, normal navigation in Strait of Hormuz. Reuters. Retrieved from Reuters Reuters. (2026). New mediators emerge in Iran war. Reuters. Retrieved from Reuters Report Rouhi, M. (2018). US–Iran tensions and the oil factor. Survival, 60(5), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396338.2018.1518367
Copyright (c) 2026 Gohar Ayaz, Nibras Hussain, Muntaha Shoaib, Ghazal Abro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Behind Bars for the First Time: A Phenomenological Study of Psychological and Social Vulnerabilities of First-Time Offenders in District Prison Faisalabad, Pakistan
First-time offenders are one of the most vulnerable groups in prisons because they are taken into prison for the first time to a highly restricted environment with unfamiliar prison culture, prison routines, and prison hierarchy, where they do not have a previous experience to rely on to help them adjust, so they are emotionally stressed and have difficulties in adjusting. The study was designed to investigate the social, psychological, and economic problems of first-time offenders, their relations with hardened or repeat offenders, problems faced in prison, and needs experienced during the first time in prison, and the important psychological stress factors of first-time imprisonment. The design used in this study is a qualitative research design, which is used to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of inmates. The data was gathered by conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 25 first-time offenders, who were selected through purposive sampling in District Prison Faisalabad. Thematic analysis was then used to uncover key themes and patterns emerging from the data around prison experiences and vulnerabilities. Overall, the study revealed that imprisonment is an emotionally and socially challenging experience for first-time offenders with feelings of fear, anxiety, loneliness, uncertainty, and isolation, particularly in the early stages. The participants expressed difficulty adapting to the rules of the prison, the poor living conditions, and living together, making them feel insecure and helpless. References Akhtar, S., Shah, S. W. A., Rafiq, M., & Khan, A. (2016). Research design and statistical methods in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (PJMS). Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 32(1), 151. Allmark, P., Boote, J., Chambers, E., Clarke, A., McDonnell, A., Thompson, A., & Tod, A. M. (2009). Ethical issues in the use of in-depth interviews: literature review and discussion. Research Ethics, 5(2), 48-54. Andrade, A. L. M., Scatena, A., Martins, G. D. G., de Oliveira Pinheiro, B., da Silva, A. B., Enes, C. C., ... & Kim, D. J. (2020). Validation of smartphone addiction scale–Short version (SAS-SV) in Brazilian adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 110, 106540. Austin, R. (2004). The shame of it all: Stigma and the political disenfranchisement of formerly convicted and incarcerated persons. Colum. Hum. Rts. L. Rev., 36, 173-185 Aronno, M. S. R., Zumma, M. T., Prodhan, R., Zohora, F. T., Sakib, N., & Tahmiduzzaman, K. B. M. (2023, July). A study of cyber bullying classification using Social Media and Texual analysis based on Machine Learning Approches. In 2023 14th International Conference on Computing Communication and Networking Technologies (ICCCNT) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. Basit, T. (2003). Manual or electronic? The role of coding in qualitative data analysis. Educational Research, 45(2), 143–154. Clemmer, D. (1940). The prison community. Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications. Crewe, B. (2009). The prisoner society: Power, adaptation and social life in an English prison. Oxford University Press. Edgar, K., O'Donnell, I., & Martin, C. (2003). Prison Violence: The dynamics of conflict. Fear and Power, Cullompton: Willan. Eshra, S. A., Zohora, F. T., Akter, S., Rasul, I., & Hossain, A. (2025). The role of threat intelligence in preventing financially motivated cyberattacks. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(2), 20-37. Farakh, N., Ullah, M. K., Javed, Y., & Suhail, M. H. (2025). Life Behind Bars: A Study of the Psychological, Social, and Emotional Conditions of Prison Inmates in Pakistan. Journal of Social Sciences Research & Policy, 3(04), 613-621. Fazel, S., Hayes, A. J., Bartellas, K., Clerici, M., & Trestman, R. (2016). Mental health of prisoners: Prevalence, adverse outcomes, and interventions. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(9), 871–881. Giordano, P. C., Cernkovich, S. A., & Rudolph, J. L. (2002). Gender, crime, and desistance: Toward a theory of cognitive transformation. American Journal of Sociology, 107(4), 990–1064. Gooch, K. (2025). ‘They’ll Do Harsh Shit in Here’: The Anatomy and Culture of Prison Victimisation. In Prison Violence: The Search for Recognition and Respect (pp. 61-95). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. Gul, R., Muhammad, B., & Hussain, R. (2021). An Analysis of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model to Reform Pakistan's Prisons. Pakistan Journal of Criminology, 13(3). Haney, C. (2001). The psychological impact of incarceration: Implications for post-prison adjustment. Urban Institute Press Hidayat, N., Andriani, F., & Yoenanto, N. H. (2024). Exploring challenges and strategies for improving the quality of education: Integrative literature review. Indonesian Journal of Educational Research and Review, 7(1), 128-141. Holdenson, Z., Catanzariti, L., Phillips, G., & Waters, A. M. (2003). A picture of diabetes in overseas-born Australians. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Islam, M. T., Azeem, A., Jabir, M., Paul, A., & Paul, S. K. (2022). An inventory model for a three-stage supply chain with random capacities considering disruptions and supplier reliability. Annals of Operations Research, 315(2), 1703-1728. Kallio, H., Pietilä, A. M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: developing a framework for a qualitative semi‐structured interview guide. Journal of advanced nursing, 72(12), 2954-2965. Kazmi, S. M. A., & Ismail, M. (2024). Mental health of prison inmates: validation and measurement invariance of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Current psychology, 43(32), 26154-26166. Leban, L., Cardwell, S. M., Copes, H., & Brezina, T. (2016). Adapting to prison life: A qualitative examination of the coping process among incarcerated offenders. Justice Quarterly, 33(6), 943-969. Liebling, A. (2014). Postscript: Integrity and emotion in prison research. Qualitative inquiry, 20(4), 481-486. Liebling, A., & Arnold, H. (2012). Social relationships between prisoners in a maximum security prison: Violence, faith, and the declining nature of trust. Journal of Criminal Justice, 40(5), 413-424. Mahmood, H. Z., Khan, R., Mehmood, B., & Khan, K. (2014). Efficiency analysis of conventional vs. Islamic microfinance: An appraisal for sustainability in Pakistan. International Journal of Empirical Finance, 3(4), 192-201. Maruna, S. (2001). Making good: How ex-convicts reform and rebuild their lives. American Psychological Association. Maxwell, Y., Day, A., & Casey, S. (2013). Understanding the needs of vulnerable prisoners: The role of social and emotional wellbeing. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 9(2), 57–67. Ministry of Justice. (2008). Prison population projections. http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/stats-prison-pop-sep08.pdf Schnittker, J. (2014). The psychological dimensions and the social consequences of incarceration. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 651(1), 122-138. Souza, K. A., & Dhami, M. K. (2010). First-time and recurrent inmates’ experiences of imprisonment. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37(12), 1330-1342. Steiner, B., Ellison, J. M., Butler, H. D., & Cain, C. M. (2017). Examining the causes and correlates of prison victimization: A systematic review of the literature. Justice Quarterly. 91-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2017.1402072 Sutherland, E. H., Cressey, D. R., & Luckenbill, D. F. (1992). Principles of criminology. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. Sykes, G. M. (1958). The society of captives: A study of a maximum security prison. Princeton University Press. Tewksbury, R. (2012). Stigmatization of sex offenders. Deviant Behavior, 33(8), 606–623. Tareque, T., Tousif, F., Billah, M., Jabir, A. and Mirmotalebi, S. (2023) Comprehensive Analysis of the Effects of Superplasticizer Variation on the Workability and Strength of Ready-Mix Concrete. Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 13, 756-770. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojce.2023.134050 Ullah, R. (2024). Systemic Barriers to Prisoner Rehabilitation in Pakistan: A Case Study of District Jail Sargodha. ResearchGate. Ullah, R. (2024). Systemic Barriers to Prisoner Rehabilitation in Pakistan: A Case Study of District Jail Sargodha. ResearchGate. Walmsley, R. (2009). World prison population list (8th ed.). International Centre for Prison Studies. Western, B., Braga, A. A., Davis, J., & Sirois, C. (2015). Stress and hardship after prison. American Journal of Sociology, 120(5), 1512-1547. Wolff, N., & Shi, J. (2009). Feelings of safety inside prison among male inmates with different victimization experiences. Violence and Victims, 24(6), 800–816. Wooldredge, J., & Steiner, B. (2014). A bi-level framework for understanding prisoner victimization. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 30(1), 141–162. World Health Organization. (2009). Women’s health in prison: Correcting gender inequity in prison health. Yang, S., Kadouri, A., Révah-Lévy, A., Mulvey, E. P., & Falissard, B. (2009). Doing time: A qualitative study of long-term incarceration and the impact of mental illness. International journal of law and psychiatry, 32(5), 294-303. Zahid, I., & Ullah, R. (2026). Legal, Institutional, and Technological Development in Forensic Science in Pakistan. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v5i3.282 Zamble, E., & Porporino, F. J. (2013). Coping, behavior, and adaptation in prison inmates. Springer Science & Business Media.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sabeeha Safdar, Rooh Ullah, Muhammad Hussain https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The Effectiveness of AI-Based Evaluation Tools for English Language Learners
Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast changing the way education is conducted, especially in the aspect of language acquisition. AI-based assessment tools offer automated real-time feedback and personalized feedback as an alternative to conventional assessment methods. Although they are increasingly used, their effectiveness in enhancing English language learning has not been fully explored. The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of AI-based evaluation tools in English language learners by assessing their level of awareness, usage patterns, learning improvement, engagement, challenges, and user perception. The survey-based research design was utilized with the assistance of a quantitative research design. The data were gathered during a six-month time span among students studying in different universities in Islamabad. Responses were collected using a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. Convenience sampling was used and the data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics and reliability analysis. The results demonstrate that AI-based evaluation tools are highly aware and used by the respondents (M = 3.84), which means that they are more familiar and accessible. These tools were highly rated in effectiveness (M = 4.12), especially in giving quick and correct feedback, improving grammar, developing writing skills, and uncovering weaknesses in language. Also, AI tools showed a large positive effect on the improvement of learning and engagement (M = 4.05) with learners stating that they were more motivated, confident, and had better interactive learning experiences. The reliability analysis showed that the internal consistency of all the constructs was high with a Cronbach alpha of between 0.821 and 0.911. Nonetheless, answers to the issue of challenges and general acceptance were moderate (M = 3.41), and the reasons were related to the reliability of the feedback, technical issues, and the compatibility with the traditional methods of teaching. The research concludes that AI-based assessment tools can greatly improve English language learning by offering effective, customized, and interactive learning experiences. They should however be applied as supplementary resources to the conventional instructional strategies to tackle current constraints and guarantee balanced educational results. References Afzal, M., Arshad, N., & Shaheen, A. (2025). ChatGPT and the future of academic writing: enhancing productivity and creativity. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 3(1), 1-11. Akhter, E. (2024). Ai-Based Language Education Platforms: A Systematic Analysis Of Edtech Tools For English Proficiency. Journal of Sustainable Development and Policy, 3(04), 01-31. Aronno, M. S. R., Zumma, M. T., Prodhan, R., Zohora, F. T., Sakib, N., & Tahmiduzzaman, K. B. M. (2023, July). A study of cyber bullying classification using Social Media and Texual analysis based on Machine Learning Approches. In 2023 14th International Conference on Computing Communication and Networking Technologies (ICCCNT) (pp. 1-8). IEEE. Arshad, N., Baber, M. U., & Ullah, A. (2024). Assessing the transformative influence of ChatGPT on research practices among scholars in Pakistan. Mesopotamian Journal of Big Data, 4(1), 1-10. Chandra, K. R., Muthumanikandan, M., Kathyayini, S., Akhila, H. G., Pathak, P., & Shivaprakash, S. (2024). The impact of artificial intelligence tools and techniques for effective English language education. Nanotechnology Perceptions, 20(S7), 897. Chen, A., Zhang, Y., Jia, J., Liang, M., Cha, Y., & Lim, C. P. (2025). A systematic review and meta‐analysis of AI‐enabled assessment in language learning: Design, implementation, and effectiveness. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41(1), e13064. Fattah, H. A., Vadivel, B., Shaban, A. A., & Shanmugam, K. (2023). Enhancing English language education: The impact of AI integration in the classroom. Journal of Humanities and Education Development, 5(6), 116-123. Gayed, J. M., Carlon, M. K. J., Oriola, A. M., & Cross, J. S. (2022). Exploring an AI-based writing Assistant's impact on English language learners. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 3, 100055. Jia, F., Sun, D., Ma, Q., & Looi, C. K. (2022). Developing an AI-based learning system for L2 learners’ authentic and ubiquitous learning in English language. Sustainability, 14(23), 15527. Lee, D., Kim, H. H., & Sung, S. H. (2023). Development research on an AI English learning support system to facilitate learner-generated-context-based learning. Educational technology research and development, 71(2), 629-666. Liu, X. J., Wang, J., & Zou, B. (2025). Evaluating an AI speaking assessment tool: Score accuracy, perceived validity, and oral peer feedback as feedback enhancement. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 75, 101505. Luo, J., Zheng, C., Yin, J., & Teo, H. H. (2025). Design and assessment of AI-based learning tools in higher education: A systematic review. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 22(1), 42. Owan, V. J., Abang, K. B., Idika, D. O., Etta, E. O., & Bassey, B. A. (2023). Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence tools in educational measurement and assessment. Eurasia journal of mathematics, science and technology education, 19(8), em2307. Tareque, T., Tousif, F., Billah, M., Jabir, A. and Mirmotalebi, S. (2023) Comprehensive Analysis of the Effects of Superplasticizer Variation on the Workability and Strength of Ready-Mix Concrete. Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 13, 756-770. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojce.2023.134050 Usman, M., Asif, M., Ullah, A., & Ullah, W. (2024). User’s Habits and Attitudes towards Chinese Books Reading in Pakistan. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 11-28. Wang, Y., Wu, J., Chen, F., Wang, Z., Li, J., & Wang, L. (2024). Empirical assessment of AI-powered tools for vocabulary acquisition in EFL instruction. IEEE Access, 12, 131892-131905. Woo, J. H., & Choi, H. (2021). Systematic review for AI-based language learning tools. arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.04455. Yiling, J., Omar, M., & Kamaruzaman, F. M. (2025). Exploring the AI-Enhanced Project-Based Learning for English Language Acquisition: A Systematic Review of the Key Elements and Emerging Technology Trends. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(2), 636-652. Yuan, Y. (2024). An empirical study of the efficacy of AI chatbots for English as a foreign language learning in primary education. Interactive Learning Environments, 32(10), 6774-6789. Zhao, J. (2025). Advancing english language education: A mixed-methods analysis of AI-driven tools' impact on engagement, personalization, and learning outcomes. Education and Information Technologies, 30(15), 21773-21813.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aleena Taj, Unaiza Khudai, Ram Sebak Thakur https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Leadership Styles and Organizational Management Outcomes in Educational Institutions: A Thematic Literature Review
Leadership is broadly linked to the success of organizations in educational settings, including institutional effectiveness, teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. This literature review is themed and looks into the influence of various leadership styles on organizational management in school, colleges and universities. In-depth literature search of various academic databases yielded the peer-reviewed articles, particularly from the past decade, with some classic theoretical articles. Eight major approaches to leadership were examined: transformational, transactional, democratic, autocratic, servant, distributed, instructional, and laissez-faire. Thematic synthesis identified two leadership styles that showed the highest positive relationships with teacher motivation, organizational commitment, and institutional effectiveness: transformational and distributed leadership. On the other hand, teachers' satisfaction and organizational function tend to be negatively associated with autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles. Democratic leadership became a flexible and context specific strategy that can be used to effectively meet teachers' psychological and professional needs. The review revealed mediating mechanisms that were deemed as critical for the influence of leadership in terms of organizational commitment, psychological well-being, and professional development. Some of the main issues that hinder successful leadership implementation are lack of acceptance for change, lack of training, lack of decentralization in decision making processes, and lack of resources. The results validate a context-adaptive, integrated leadership approach that incorporates features of various styles, depending on the institutional context and demands, with a focus on teacher well-being as well as institutional effectiveness. Future research needs include longitudinal studies, comparative studies across all education sectors, and research on leadership in new education settings such as digital/computer and online learning environments. References Alessa, G. S. (2021). The dimensions of transformational leadership and its organizational effects in public universities in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 682092. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.682092 Das, N., & Dixit, M. (2024). Distributed leadership models enhancing collaborative decision making in educational institutions. San Francisco Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.55544/sjmars.3.1.3 Efendi, N. (2024). Reconstructing collaborative leadership for adaptive educational management in Islamic vocational schools. International Journal of Educational Management and Research, 1(2), Article 416. https://doi.org/10.71305/ijemr.v1i2.416 Fang, Z., & Yu, S.-C. (2023). Cross-level influence of group-focused transformational leadership on organizational citizenship behavior among Chinese secondary school teachers. Behavioral Sciences, 13(10), Article 848. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13100848 Floyd, A., Baxter, J., Morales, A., & Bari, R. (2023). Leading online learning during a pandemic and beyond: Challenges and opportunities for school leaders in England. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 52(1), 106–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432231191171 Galdames-Calderón, M. (2023). Distributed leadership: School principals’ practices to promote teachers’ professional development for school improvement. Education Sciences, 13(7), Article 715. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070715 Granville-Chapman, K., Lee, M. T., & Ritchie-Dunham, J. (2024). The development of a new model of educational leadership: Leadership for teacher flourishing. Humanistic Management Journal, 9, 247–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41463-024-00181-z Hermanto, Y. B., Srimulyani, V. A., & Pitoyo, D. J. (2024). The mediating role of quality of work life and organizational commitment in the link between transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior. Heliyon, 10(5), e27664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27664 Joseph, M., Bankole, A., Adelowo, S., Ogunbiyi, D., & Deji, O. (2024). School principals’ support for distributed leadership: A review of transformational and distributed leadership literature. International Journal of Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Education. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijirme.2024.v3i5n04 Karakose, T., Kardas, A., Kanadlı, S., Tülübaş, T., & Yildirim, B. (2024). How collective efficacy mediates the association between principal instructional leadership and teacher self-efficacy: Findings from a meta-analytic structural equation modeling study. Behavioral Sciences, 14(2), Article 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14020085 Khmaladze, S. (2024). Secondary school teacher observation on their application of distributed leadership style. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 28(1), 256–272. https://doi.org/10.56131/pstp.2024.28.1.256 Morales, J. C. (2022). Transformational leadership and teacher work motivation in private educational institutions. International Journal of Research Publications, 105(1), Article 3687. https://doi.org/10.47119/IJRP1001051720223687 Paganin, G., Avanzi, L., Guglielmi, D., Alcover, C. M., & Mazzetti, G. (2023). How emotional contagion among teachers affects the relationship between transformational leadership and team cohesion. Behavioral Sciences, 13(8), Article 685. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13080685 Perkins, J. (2023). Headteacher leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4359235 Saif, N., Amelia, G. G. G., Rubin, A., Shaheen, I., & Murtaza, M. (2024). Influence of transformational leadership on innovative work behavior and task performance of individuals: The mediating role of knowledge sharing. Heliyon, 10(11), e32280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32280 Sonmez, E. D., & Cemaloğlu, N. (2024). Distributed leadership, self-awareness, democracy, and sustainable development: Towards an integrative model of school effectiveness. Educational Review, 76(4), 638–658. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2024.2386638 Vorontsova, A., & Dahari, L. (2024). Adapting leadership: Effective management styles in modern educational settings. Visnyk of Sumy State University. Economy Series, 2, 37–46. https://doi.org/10.21272/1817-9215.2024.2-04 Wang, T., & Tian, G. (2023). Linking distributed leadership with differentiated instruction in inclusive schools: The mediating roles of teacher leadership and professional competence. Behavioral Sciences, 13(12), Article 990. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13120990 Yousef, H. I. H., & Ishak, R. (2024). The influence of headmaster’s servant leadership and teacher motivation on student performance in Sharjah primary schools in UAE. International Business Education Journal, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.37134/ibej.vol17.2.5.2024 Yu, X., & Jang, G. (2024). A framework for transformational leadership to enhance teacher’s work performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1331597. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1331597
Copyright (c) 2026 Liaqat Ali Khan, Saima Iram, Asma Fazia, Naima Nawaz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
From Search Engines to AI Engines: How Generative Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Consumer Discovery, Decision-Making, and Digital Marketing Ecosystems
The rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (AI) significantly transformed consumer discovery, decision-making behaviour, and digital marketing ecosystems across digital platforms. This study examined the influence of AI-powered technologies on online consumer interactions and marketing transformation in contemporary digital environments. The research investigated the role of conversational AI, recommendation systems, predictive analytics, and automated content generation in improving personalized consumer experiences and marketing efficiency. A quantitative research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 420 respondents consisting of digital consumers and marketing professionals through a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed high respondent agreement regarding the impact of generative AI on consumer discovery processes (M = 4.24, SD = 0.61), consumer decision-making behaviour (M = 4.18, SD = 0.64), and digital marketing ecosystem transformation (M = 4.36, SD = 0.56). The findings indicated that AI-powered systems improved information accessibility, personalized engagement, customer interaction, and operational efficiency within digital marketing platforms. The study also identified ethical concerns related to data privacy, transparency, misinformation, and algorithmic bias that influenced consumer trust and technology acceptance. The results confirmed that generative artificial intelligence fundamentally reshaped digital consumer behaviour and modern marketing communication systems. The study contributed valuable insights for marketers, organizations, and policymakers seeking to implement responsible and effective AI-driven marketing strategies in increasingly automated digital ecosystems. References Adam, M., Wessel, M., and Benlian, A. (2021). AI-based chatbots in customer service and their effects on user compliance. Electronic Markets, 31(2), 427–445. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-020-00414-7 Agarwal, R., Gans, J., and Goldfarb, A. (2025). Artificial intelligence and the changing nature of search and discovery. Management Science, 71(2), 845–861. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2024.01987 Ameen, N., Cheah, J. H., and Kumar, S. (2024). Artificial intelligence adoption and customer trust in digital commerce. Journal of Business Research, 176, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114523 Ameen, N., Tarhini, A., Reppel, A., and Anand, A. (2022). Customer experiences in the age of artificial intelligence. 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Minds and Machines, 30(4), 681–694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11023-020-09548-1 Grewal, D., Satornino, C. B., Davenport, T., Sarkar, A., and Guha, A. (2024). How generative AI is shaping the future of marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-024-01064-3 Hermann, E., and Puntoni, S. (2024). Generative AI in marketing and principles for ethical design and deployment. Journal of Macromarketing, 44(3), 456–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/07439156241309874 Huang, M. H., and Rust, R. T. (2024). A strategic framework for artificial intelligence in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 49(1), 30–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-020-00749-9 Huang, M. H., Rust, R. T., and Maksimovic, V. (2025). The future of AI in customer engagement and marketing communication. Journal of Marketing, 89(1), 15–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222429241234567 Jarek, K., and Mazurek, G. (2024). Marketing and artificial intelligence. 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Past, present, and future of customer engagement. Journal of Business Research, 172, 114402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114402 Longoni, C., Bonezzi, A., and Morewedge, C. K. (2022). Resistance to medical artificial intelligence. Journal of Consumer Research, 46(4), 629–650. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucz013 Lopez-Lopez, D., and Bara Iniesta, M. (2025). The impact of conversational AI on consumer decision-making: A systematic review and cluster analysis. International Journal of Market Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/18479790251351889 Mariani, M., Perez-Vega, R., and Wirtz, J. (2023). AI in marketing, consumer research and psychology: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Psychology and Marketing, 40(10), 1961–1984. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21845 Marrone, M., and Hazelton, J. (2024). Generative AI and strategic communication in digital marketing ecosystems. 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The influence of anthropomorphic appearance of artificial intelligence products on consumer behavior and brand evaluation under different product types. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 74, 103432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103432
Copyright (c) 2026 Momina Khan, Syeda Roshaan Jamil Habibi, Muhammad Shehzad Khan, Rabail Tariq Mughal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
AI and Misinformation: The Role of Generative Models in Shaping Public Opinion in Pakistan
The rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has introduced unprecedented challenges to information integrity worldwide, with developing nations like Pakistan facing heightened vulnerabilities. This paper explores the role of generative AI models in propagating misinformation and shaping public opinion within Pakistan's unique socio-political and digital ecosystem. Employing a qualitative, multi-method research design incorporating online content analysis and case study approaches, the study examines AI-generated misinformation across political, social, and geopolitical domains in Pakistan from 2023 to 2025. The findings reveal that deepfake technologies, large language models, and generative adversarial networks are increasingly being weaponized to create highly realistic, scalable false narratives that undermine electoral integrity, target vulnerable populations - particularly women politicians - and exacerbate geopolitical tensions, especially in India-Pakistan relations. The research identifies critical gaps in Pakistan's existing legal framework, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), which lacks specific provisions addressing deepfakes and AI-generated content. Furthermore, low digital literacy rates, rapid information dissemination through closed messaging platforms, and technological resource constraints significantly impede detection and mitigation efforts. Drawing on Information Overload Theory, the Social Amplification of Risk Framework, and Cultivation Theory, this paper demonstrates how GAI-driven misinformation erodes public trust, intensifies societal polarization, and threatens democratic processes. The study offers comprehensive policy recommendations encompassing legislative reforms, media literacy initiatives, and public-private partnerships to foster a more resilient information environment in Pakistan. References Ahmed, S., Masood, M., Bee, A. W. T., & Ichikawa, K. (2025). False failures, real distrust: The impact of an infrastructure failure deepfake on government trust. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1574840. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1574840 Akhtar, Z. Bin. (2024). Unveiling the evolution of generative AI (GAI): a comprehensive and investigative analysis toward LLM models (2021–2024) and beyond. 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E., Renn, O., Slovic, P., Brown, H. S., Emel, J., Goble, R., Kasperson, J. X., & Ratick, S. (1988). The social amplification of risk: A conceptual framework. Risk Analysis, 8(2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1111/J.1539-6924.1988.TB01168.X Khan, A. (2024). Generative artificial intelligence and deterrence stability between India and Pakistan. Center for International Strategic Studies. https://ciss.org.pk/generative-artificial-intelligence-and-deterrence-stability-between-india-and-pakistan/ Knott, A., Pedreschi, D., Jitsuzumi, T., Leavy, S., Eyers, D., Chakraborti, T., Trotman, A., Sundareswaran, S., Baeza-Yates, R., Biecek, P., Weller, A., Teal, P. D., Basu, S., Haklidir, M., Morini, V., Russell, S., & Bengio, Y. (2024). AI content detection in the emerging information ecosystem: New obligations for media and tech companies. Ethics and Information Technology, 26(4), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10676-024-09795-1 Kuźnicka-Błaszkowska, D., & Kostyuk, N. (2025). Emerging need to regulate deepfakes in international law: The Russo-Ukrainian war as an example. Journal of Cybersecurity, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyaf008 Łabuz, M., & Nehring, C. (2024). On the way to deep fake democracy? Deep fakes in election campaigns in 2023. European Political Science, 23(4), 454–473. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41304-024-00482-9 Li, F., & Yang, Y. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence generated content labels on perceived accuracy, message credibility, and sharing intentions for misinformation: Web based, randomized, controlled experiment. JMIR Formative Research, 8(1), Article e60024. https://doi.org/10.2196/60024 López-Borrull, A., & Lopezosa, C. (2025). Mapping the impact of generative AI on disinformation: Insights from a scoping review. Publications, 13(3), 33. https://doi.org/10.3390/publications13030033 Mahmood, W., & Shahzad, M. (2024). Mediating role of continued influence of misinformation (CIM) between intolerance and user engagement on social media. Media and Communication Review, 4(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.32350/MCR.41.01 Malik, N., & Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). The role of artificial intelligence in educational leadership and management for service quality in Pakistani higher education: A narrative review. Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT), 8(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.63878/jalt2080 Mazhar, S. (2025, May). When reality is manufactured: AI misinformation and the future of journalism in Pakistan. Digital Rights Foundation. https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/when-reality-is-manufactured/ Mirsky, Y., & Lee, W. (2021). The creation and detection of deepfakes: A survey. ACM Computing Surveys, 54(1). https://doi.org/10.1145/3425780 Momeni, M. (2025). Artificial intelligence and political deepfakes: Shaping citizen perceptions through misinformation. Journal of Creative Communications, 20(1), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/09732586241277335 Nadeem, K., & Mumtaz, T. (2024). Manipulated minds: Political and social factors enabling deepfake impact in Pakistan. Regional Lens, 3(1), 145. https://doi.org/10.62997/rl.2024.31051 Nasir, S., Zia, A. Z., & Khalid, A. K. (2024). Mainstream media and social media news consumption patterns of youth in Lahore Pakistan. Journal of Media & Communication, 5(1), 16–39. https://doi.org/10.46745/ilma.jmc.2024.05.01.02 National Assembly of Pakistan. (2025). Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/679255ee36f45_595.pdf O’Connor, C., & Weatherall, J. O. (2019). The misinformation age: How false beliefs spread. Yale University Press. Outlook India. (2025, May 25). Fact check: Pak minister uses “fake” news report to praise country’s Air Force in Senate; local media, PIB says “AI-generated”. Outlook India. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/fact-check-pak-minister-uses-fake-news-report-to-praise-countrys-air-force-in-senate-local-media-pib-says-ai-generated Papageorgiou, E., Chronis, C., Varlamis, I., & Himeur, Y. (2024). A survey on the use of large language models (LLMs) in fake news. Future Internet, 16(8), 298. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16080298 Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(5), 388–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TICS.2021.02.007 PTA. (2014). PTA (Re-constitution) Act, 1996. https://www.pta.gov.pk/assets/media/pta_act_consolidated_footnotes_11012022.pdf Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2023). The Impact of Digital Literacy on Students’ Learning Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 194–205. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v2i2.210 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2025). Between Adoption and Ambiguity: Navigating the AI Policy Vacuum in Pakistani Higher Education. Research Journal for Social Affairs, 3(6), 877–885. https://doi.org/10.71317/RJSA.003.06.0523 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Malik, N. (2025). The impact of social media use on students’ behavioral health and academic outcomes: A narrative review (2016–2024). Journal of Applied Linguistics and TESOL (JALT), 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.63878/jalt2081 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Köksal, O., & Akomodi, J. O. (2026). Empowering Generation Z: Digital Literacy, Innovation, and Well-Being in the Digital Learning Era. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 106–124. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v5i3.286 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., Malik, N., & Bano, S. (2025). Learning to Innovate: WhatsApp Groups as Grassroots Innovation Ecosystems Among Micro-Entrepreneurs in Emerging Markets. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 14(1), 1854–1862. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2025.14.1.47 Raza, M., Yaseen Moroojo, M., Abad, B., Javed Ali, P., & Shabbir, T. (2025). AI-driven journalism in Pakistan: Legal constraints and future directions. ACADEMIA International Journal for Social Sciences, 4(2), 1929–1944. https://doi.org/10.63056/ACAD.004.02.0297 Rehman Uddin, M. H., & Noor ul Huda. (2025). Artificial intelligence and the fight against misinformation: Analyzing the role of digital media in shaping public perceptions in Pakistan. Advance Social Science Archive Journal. https://assajournal.com/index.php/36/article/view/720/1043 Schmitt, M., & Flechais, I. (2024). Digital deception: Generative artificial intelligence in social engineering and phishing. Artificial Intelligence Review, 57(12), Article 324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-024-10973-2 Shahzadi, A., & Hussain, S. (2024). The role of culture mediating the social media in eliminating the gender inequality. Online Media and Society, 5(1), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.71016/oms/gx2ppb85 Shair, W., Waheed, A., Kamran, M. M., & Kubra, N. (2022). Digital divide in Pakistan: Barriers to ICT usage among the individuals of Pakistan. Journal of Economic Impact, 4(3), 196–204. https://doi.org/10.52223/jei4032206 Siraj, S. A., Gul, Q., & Inam. (2025). Towards an informed society: A critical analysis of media literacy in Pakistan. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 33(1). https://ojs.aiou.edu.pk/index.php/jssh/article/view/2903 Toor, S. I., Zaidi, S. Z., Waheed, J., & Siddiqui, A. (2024). The public view on social media platforms: A case study of Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i1.1898 Twomey, J., Ching, D., Aylett, M. P., Quayle, M., Linehan, C., & Murphy, G. (2023). Do deepfake videos undermine our epistemic trust? A thematic analysis of tweets that discuss deepfakes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. PLOS ONE, 18(10), e0291668. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0291668 Vinay, R., Spitale, G., Biller-Andorno, N., & Germani, F. (2025). Emotional prompting amplifies disinformation generation in AI large language models. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 8, 1543603. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2025.1543603 Vincent, Z., Hashmat, S., & Shahwar, D. E. (2025). Impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on professional journalism in Pakistan. Online Media and Society, 6(2), 29–44. https://doi.org/10.71016/OMS/15153P68 Wardle, C., & Derakhshan, H. (2017). Information disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policymaking. Council of Europe. http://tverezo.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PREMS-162317-GBR-2018-Report-desinformation-A4-BAT.pdf WHO, UN, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNAIDS, ITU, UN Global Pulse, & IFRC. (2020). Managing the COVID-19 infodemic: Promoting healthy behaviours and mitigating the harm from misinformation and disinformation. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-09-2020-managing-the-covid-19-infodemic-promoting-healthy-behaviours-and-mitigating-the-harm-from-misinformation-and-disinformation Zellers, R., Holtzman, A., Rashkin, H., Bisk, Y., Farhadi, A., Roesner, F., & Choi, Y. (2019). Defending against neural fake news. In H. M. Wallach, H. Larochelle, A. Beygelzimer, F. d’Alché Buc, E. Fox, & R. Garnett (Eds.), Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems (Vol. 32, pp. 9051–9062). Curran Associates, Inc. https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper/2019/file/3e9f0fc9b2f89e043bc6233994dfcf76-Paper.pdf
Copyright (c) 2026 Younus Bashir, Saadia Bakhtawar, Jafar Ali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Between Great Powers: Pakistan’s Strategic Balancing in an Era of Intensifying Global Rivalry
This study examined Pakistan’s strategic balancing behaviour in an era of intensifying global rivalry between major powers, particularly the United States and China. The research employed a qualitative research design based on thematic analysis of 120 purposively selected documents, including peer-reviewed journal articles, policy reports, and academic publications from 2019–2026. The study identified five major themes: strategic relations with China, relations with the United States, strategic autonomy and foreign policy, economic and security considerations, and challenges of great-power rivalry. The findings indicated that strategic relations with China represented 28.3% of the total thematic distribution, followed by relations with the United States at 21.7%. Strategic autonomy and foreign policy accounted for 20.0%, economic and security considerations 17.5%, and challenges of great-power rivalry 12.5%. The results demonstrated that Pakistan pursued a multidimensional balancing strategy to manage competing pressures from major powers while maximizing economic and strategic benefits. China emerged as a dominant economic and infrastructural partner, while the United States remained essential in security and diplomatic engagement. The study further revealed that economic development and national security significantly influenced foreign policy decisions, while geopolitical pressure and strategic uncertainty constrained policy flexibility. The findings highlighted that Pakistan’s strategic balancing functioned as an adaptive mechanism for maintaining foreign policy autonomy in a multipolar international system. References Adil, N., Uzzaman, M. S., & Noor-e-Hera. (2024). Pakistan’s quest for strategic autonomy: Hedging against US-China-Russia rivalries post-2013. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v7i2.1082 Ali, I., Arshad, N., & Rogers, R. A. (2024). Trilateral dynamics in Pakistan’s foreign policy: Balancing China and hedging the US. Strategic Analysis, 48(5), 483–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2024.2434382 Fatima, S., Amna, M., & Saeed, H. (2024). Pakistan power position under the influence of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: An analysis of economic and strategic opportunities. Annals of Human and Social Sciences, 5(2-S). https://doi.org/10.35484/ahss.2024(5-II-S)09 Ikram, M., Majeed, G., & Rashid, S. (2024). Pakistan’s strategic balancing between the United States and China within the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. International Journal of Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences, 3(2), 903–912. Iqbal, A., Saleem, A., & Cheema, A. T. (2025). Pakistan’s balancing strategy between the United States and China: An analysis. Journal of Political Stability Archive, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.63468/jpsa.4.1.11 Jahanzaib, M., & Ahmed, S. (2024). Geoeconomics and Pakistan’s foreign policy transformation in the era of regional connectivity. South Asian Studies, 39(1), 45–61. Jalal, S. U., Shah, S. A., Khan, M. S., & Hussain, T. (2025). Navigating multipolarity and Pakistan’s strategy of balancing great powers. Journal of Regional Studies Review. https://doi.org/10.62843/jrsr/2025.4d148 Khan, M. S. (2024). China’s strategic interests in Pakistan: Beyond CPEC. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v7i2.1052 Larik, A. R., Mangi, S. N., & Bukhari, S. G. A. S. (2023). Elite consensus and balancing: A neoclassical realist perspective on Pakistan–China ties. Jindal Journal of International Affairs. https://doi.org/10.1177/23477970231152363 Majeed, G., Rashid, S., & Ikram, M. (2023). Pakistan’s geoeconomic orientation and strategic partnerships in a changing world order. Pakistan Horizon, 76(4), 23–41. Maqsood, M. (2024). US-China power contestation: Pakistan’s balancing paradox. Journal of Development and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2024(5-I)35 Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M. (2023). Bridging CPEC-Driven Industrial Growth and Skill-Based Education in Pakistan: A Systematic Review. Journal of Business Insight and Innovation, 2(1), 55–78. Retrieved from https://insightfuljournals.com/index.php/JBII/article/view/57 Rogers, R. A. P., Arshad, N., & Ali, I. (2023). Understanding the decline of the Pakistan–US alliance and the growing influence of China in Pakistan. Intellectual Discourse, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.31436/id.v31i1.1936 Tahir, M. (2024). Navigating China-US strategic competition in Asia Pacific from the prism of offensive realism. Pakistan Social Sciences Review, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.35484/pssr.2024(8-II)39
Copyright (c) 2026 Syed Shameel Ahmed Quadri, Major Murad Ali, Momina Yasir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The role of Emotional Intelligence during Stressed and Demoralized Environments Inside Organizations
Various issues regarding stress and demoralization of employees working in organizations have been noted while dipping the attention of the workforce, However, emotional intelligence is a pivotal role in the stress and demoralization of employees/workforce. The requirement for the judgment of managing emotional intelligence, an optimistic relationship with stress management, and demoralization of employees seems mandatory. The study examined two frameworks/hypotheses that examined the quantity of emotional intelligence as a forecaster during the handling of a stressed and demoralized environment inside an organization. In this regard, 120 (86 males and 34 females) various ethnic employees, professionals, and managers were nominated from the banking sector (Including National Bank, HBL, Askari Bank, Khyber Bank, UBL & Meezan Bank) in Pakistan as respondents for the survey to measure variables including, Emotional-intelligence, stress environment, and demoralization of employees. Resultantly, a substantial association between emotional intelligence, Stress, and demoralized environment were found. Stress and demoralization emerge as statistically significant components concerning the relationship with emotional intelligence. The experiment proves that the role of EI is essential for leaders while leading an organization, especially in stressed and demoralized environments, to cope with any unforeseen problems and enhance the productivity of the organization with high morale of the workforce. References Abbasi, A. A., Bilal, M., Sherazi, S. K. H., Tafakhar, S., & Ahmad, S. (2025). Barriers in adoption of AI in human resource management practices: A study of Pakistan perspective. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(3), 2158–2174. Agnoli, S., Mancini, G., Pozzoli, T., Baldaro, B., Russo, P. M., & Surcinelli, P. (2012). The interaction between emotional intelligence and cognitive ability in predicting scholastic performance in school-aged children. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(5), 660–665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.05.020 Ahmad, S. (2024a). Leadership lapses: Their impact on employees' wellbeing and performance. Singaporean Journal of Business Economics and Management Studies. http://www.singaporeanjbem.com Ahmad, S. (2024b). The impact of decision making by charismatic leadership in conflicted and tangled circumstances. KASBIT Business Journal, 17(1). Ahmad, S. (2025). Statistical analysis of leadership styles and their impact on hierarchical effectiveness in organizations. Global Journal of Sciences, 1(2), 28–37. https://doi.org/10.48165/gjs.2024.1204 Ahmad, S., Khurram, S., Smerat, A., Andleeb, N., Aysha, S., Sultan, A., & Ahmad, S. (2025). An investigation into the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic success among university students. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 15(1), 555–571. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.15.01.49 Ahmad, S., & Museera, S. (2024). The strategic influence of cloud computing on contemporary marketing and management practices. Journal of Engineering and Computational Intelligence Review, 2(2), 21–30. Ahmad, S., Nisa, G., Shah, S. H. I., & Manzoor, H. (2025). Exploring the interplay of creativity and proactive personality: The mediating role of self-efficacy in entrepreneurial behavior. Research Journal for Social Affairs, 3(4), 233–242. Ahmad, S., Smerat, A., Wong, W.-K., & Bilal, M. (2025). A comparative statistical study on social media usage and its impact on the mental well-being of young employees. Sigmae, 14(4), 129–147. https://doi.org/10.29327/2520355.14.4-10 Ahmad, S., Wong, W.-K., Riaz, S., & Iqbal, A. (2024). The role of employee motivation and its impact on productivity in modern workplaces while applying human resource management policies. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 13(2), 7–12. Ahmad, S., Zada, M., & Ahmad, H. (n.d.). Impact of decision making by charismatic leadership in conflicted and tangled circumstances. KASBIT Business Journal, 17(1). http://www.kbj.kasbit.edu.pk Al Prince, A., Siddiqui, H. A., Lakho, M. B., Ahmad, S., & Asghar, A. (2025). Leveraging artificial intelligence for hyper-personalized marketing: Opportunities and challenges in the digital era. Inverge Journal of Social Sciences, 4(3), 274–287. https://doi.org/10.63544/ijss.v4i3.166 Al Rawahi, A. M. H., & Al-Balushi, B. (2023). An investigation on the relationship between emotional intelligence practices and leadership effectiveness at Omantel Company. [Journal not specified]. Ali, S., Niaz, H., Ahmad, S., & Khan, S. (2024). Investigating how rapid urbanization contributes to climate change and the social challenges cities face in mitigating its effects. Review of Applied Management and Social Sciences, 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.47067/ramss.v8i1.429 Alsufyani, A. M., Aboshaiqah, A. E., Alshehri, F. A., & Alsufyani, Y. M. (2022). Impact of emotional intelligence on work performance: The mediating role of occupational stress among nurses. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 54(6), 738–749. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12783 Asif, M., Karim, S., Latif, A., Asim, H. A. H., & Kareem, A. (2026). Impact of behavioural biases on investment decisions: A study of individual investors in Pakistan. Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review, 4(1), 1538–1550. https://doi.org/10.63878/cjssr.v4i1.2578 Asif, M., & Bashir, M. (2026). Augmentation or Anxiety? The Mediating Role of Employee Trust in The Relationship Between Generative AI Implementation, Job Crafting, and Productivity. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 4(1), 4550-4583. https://doi.org/10.59075/mrqkn978 Bello, D. C., & Kostova, T. (2012). From the editors: Conducting high impact international business research: The role of theory. Journal of International Business Studies, 43, 537–543. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2012.14 Chandran, H. S. (2005). Hari's stress inventory. [Unpublished measurement instrument]. Cooper, R. K. (1997). Applying emotional intelligence in the workplace. Training & Development, 51(12), 31–39. Dearborn, K. (2002). Studies in emotional intelligence redefine our approach to leadership development. Public Personnel Management, 31(4), 523–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/009102600203100408 Diefendorff, J. M., Richard, E. M., & Yang, J. (2008). Linking emotion regulation strategies to affective events and negative emotions at work. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 73(3), 498–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2008.09.006 Doubleday, Z. A., & Connell, S. D. (2017). Publishing with objective charisma: Breaking science's paradox. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 32(11), 803–805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2017.08.012 Goleman, D. (2011). The brain and emotional intelligence: New insights. More Than Sound. Graves, M. L. M. (2000). Emotional intelligence, general intelligence, and personality: Assessing the construct validity of an emotional intelligence test using structural equation modeling [Doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology–San Diego]. Kafetsios, K., Nezlek, J. B., & Vassilakou, T. (2012). Relationships between leaders' and subordinates' emotion regulation and satisfaction and affect at work. The Journal of Social Psychology, 152(4), 436–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2011.632788 Khalid, M. M., Abbas, M., Owais, M., Akram, M. R., & Ahmad, S. (2025). Exploring the influence of sales performance on sellers' ethical behaviour at small-level businesses in Pakistan. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(1), 1664–1675. Khan, R. D. A., Ping, H., & Asif, M. (2026). The impact of green human resource management on employee green performance through green commitment and transformational leadership. Center for Management Science Research, 4(5), 635–677. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20510765 Matthews, G., Zeidner, M., & Roberts, R. D. (2006). Models of personality and affect. In P. A. Alexander & P. H. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (p. 163). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Mekhala, R. S. (2024). Emotional intelligence and job performance. In Emotional intelligence matters: A machine-generated literature overview (pp. 33–99). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-3316-5 Ogińska-Bulik, N. (2005). Emotional intelligence in the workplace: Exploring its effects on occupational stress and health outcomes in human service workers. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 18(2), 167–175. Qayyum, J., Siddiqui, H. A., Al Prince, A., Ahmad, S., & Raza, M. (2025). Revolutionizing market insights through AI and data analytics: The next era of competitive intelligence. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(1), 3285–3302. Rafiq-uz-Zaman, M., & Asif, M. (2026). Mechanisms of exclusion: Power, structure, and the persistence of gender inequality. Qualitative Research Journal for Social Studies, 3(1), 690–703. https://doi.org/10.63878/qrjs921 Sabatini, L. M. (2003). The emotional development of gifted and average ability students: An exploratory cross-sectional study of emotion awareness and organization [Doctoral dissertation]. Ahmad, S. (2025). Entrepreneurship and sustainable leadership practices: Examining how entrepreneurial leaders incorporate sustainability into their business models and the leadership traits facilitating this integration. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Venturing, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.56536/jebv.v5i1.182 Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00001-4 Ullah, M. S., Umair, M., Qureshi, A. A., Baloch, F. M., & Ahmad, S. (2025). The role of digital technology and digital innovation towards firm performance in a digital economy: In Pakistan. Bulletin of Management Review, 2(1), 56–77.
Copyright (c) 2026 Israr Hussain Raisani, Sajjad Ahmad, Khalid Umer, Abdul Rahim, Wajahat John, Saira Tafakhar, Kamran Khan, Bbalaj Khan Afridi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Driving Financial Success with AI Supply Chains: The Crucial Role of Sustainable Development in Emerging Economies
This research is directed at examining the effect of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Supply Chain Management (SCM) on the financial performance of companies in emerging economies. Specifically, it investigates the role of sustainable development practices (environmental, social and economic aspects) as a mediator in the process of transforming the technological potential of the supply chain into real profit. A quantitative research design is used, and survey data from a cross-sectional sample of supply chain managers, sustainability officers and financial executives in a sample of key emerging markets were disseminated and subsequently analysed, resulting in 276 valid responses. Using PLS-SEM technique, the study aims to test the hypothesized relationships empirically between AI-SCM adoption, SD initiatives, and firm profitability. The empirical results showed that AI-SCM has a positive and significant direct effect on financial performance. More important, the analysis shows that sustainable development is an important mediating factor between the two. In turn, the efficiency of the resources used, waste reduction, and ethical sourcing (sustainable development) are improved, leading to cost savings, premium pricing, and an increase in market share (financial success). While existing literature has been extensive on the role of AI and sustainability in developed contexts, this study delves into the distinctive challenges of institutions and resources faced in emerging economies. It provides a new model integrated approach that shows that technological advancement (AI) and ecological/social responsibility (sustainability) do not necessarily contradict, but are complementary, and is the force that drives competitive advantage in emerging markets. Investments in emerging economies that are directly linked to a specific sustainable development goal (SDG) have the highest economic payback and should be the priorities for executives. The study highlights the need for creating policies and regulations to support the adoption of green AI, fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability. References Bag, S., Gupta, S., Kumar, A., & Sivarajah, U. (2021). An integrated artificial intelligence framework for knowledge creation and B2B marketing rational decision making for improving firm performance. Industrial Marketing Management, 92, 178–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.12.001 Bag, S., Gupta, S., Kumar, S., & Sivarajah, U. (2021). Role of technological dimensions of green supply chain management practices on firm performance. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 34(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEIM-10-2019-0324 Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson. 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