Journal of Climate and Community Development
The Journal of Climate and Community Development (JOCCD) is an open-access, double-blind, peer-reviewed international journal that includes empirical research, theoretical articles, case studies, systematic literature reviews, and meta-analyses. The journal has initially been approved by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and ranked in the Y-Category in October 2024 and maintained its status in the same category for this year till December 2027 by publishing quality content and by maintaining international publication standards. By keeping in view the mission of the Publisher, the Institute for Educating Environmental Resilience and Governance (IEERG), the JOCCD focuses on research topics, i.e., climate change and community resilience, climate impacts and food security, climate adaptation and sustainable development, technology and innovation in climate and community development, etc. For details, visit Aim & Scope The journal is multidisciplinary. We welcome submissions from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including environmental science, sociology, gender studies, and cultural studies. Desk Review Time: 1 week (Average) Peer-review Process: 4 weeks (Average) Acceptance Rate: 48% Note: The Journal did not charge any submission fees to authors; however, it charges a minimal fee for processing and publication after acceptance of a paper. For detailed guidance, visit Author Guidelines
INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATING ENVIRONMENT RESILIENCE AND GOVERNANCE (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED]
Participatory communication, structural barriers, and the awareness–action gap in community-based climate engagement in Pakistan
Scholars of climate adaptation have noted that citizens may signal a willingness to act on climate change, but actual participation in activities remains low. This article is based on a survey of 499 households conducted on four different strata of District Jhang in Punjab, Pakistan. The survey captures anticipated and actual participation in climate activities, the inclusion of climate activities in existing information, the barriers participants face in accessing climate information, and the preferred local climate activities. Results show that participants overestimate their willingness to act as evidenced by a moderate level of interest to participate in future climate campaigns (mean = 3.82, standard deviation = 1.12) and a moderate level of interest in future climate activities (mean = 4.13, standard deviation = 1.43). However, 31.6% reported no inclusion in local climate activities and 29.5% reported no awareness of community climate activities. 41.5% reported no participation in climate activities or meetings. The primary barrier to the receipt of climate information was an attitude of climate disinterest (33.2% of the responses were “climate issues are not seen as important”). Relatively large structural barriers, including a lack of reading material and distrust of information sources, remained. Participants preferred local, climate change activities that used local language and real-life examples.
Copyright (c) 2026 Saqib Ali, Dr. Imran Muslim (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Early living and academic experiences of university students having disabilities in B.Z.U Multan
Students with disabilities may face social, physical, and academic challenges in higher education. Their early life experiences, family support, social attitudes, and educational opportunities can shape their academic adjustment and university life. This study explored the early living and academic experiences of students with disabilities at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to understand their lived experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 students selected through purposive sampling from different academic departments. Thematic analysis identified five major themes: physical accessibility, social stigma and exclusion, support and resilience, academic challenges and support, and aspirations and motivation. Findings showed that inaccessible facilities, limited transportation, negative social attitudes, and inadequate academic support created major difficulties. However, family support, helpful faculty, personal resilience, and strong educational goals helped students continue their studies. The study recommends better accessibility, support services, learning resources, and faculty training to promote inclusive higher education in Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hafsa Rehman, Tanveer Hussain, Marryam Batool (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Pakistan’s maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Geopolitical rivalries, strategic competition, and regional stability
The Indian Ocean has become an arena of geopolitical competition due to growing Sino-American rivalry, India’s expanding naval power, and the importance of maritime trade and energy routes. These developments create security challenges for Pakistan because of its location, CPEC, and Gwadar Port. This paper examines how the changing strategic environment affects Pakistan’s maritime security and regional stability. It uses Sea Power Theory and Regional Security Complex Theory to analyse India’s maritime strategy, Indo-Pacific partnerships, Pakistan’s naval modernization, Gwadar and CPEC, and emerging non-traditional maritime threats. Using a qualitative approach, the study analyses academic literature, policy documents, and secondary sources. The findings show that Pakistan faces challenges from naval competition and regional militarization, while cooperation with China offers economic opportunities. The study concludes that stronger maritime institutions, diversified partnerships, blue economy development, energy security, and maritime diplomacy can strengthen Pakistan’s security and regional stability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ibad Jamil, Arif Akbar Khan, Said Muhammad, Zahir Alam (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Evaluating frameworks used to define and structure sustainability indicators: A UNESCO-based perspective on indicator development
This literature review examines the frameworks and methodological approaches developed by UNESCO and its affiliated researchers to define and organize sustainability indicators. As sustainability challenges grow more complex, the need for indicators that are both measurable and context-sensitive has become increasingly important. UNESCO has played a significant role in translating global sustainability objectives into practical implementation at the local level. Drawing on 19 publications from 2007 to 2025, this review traces the evolution of UNESCO’s approaches to methodological development in sustainability indicators. It highlights major trends, ongoing debates, and gaps within the literature. The findings reveal a transition from standalone indicators toward more integrated, participatory, and SDG-aligned systems. Despite this progress, persistent challenges include balancing global comparability with local relevance, adequately capturing intangible cultural dimensions, and ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Copyright (c) 2026 Maryam Jamil, Dr. Malik Usman Awan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effect of cyberloafing and internet addiction on academic procrastination among university students: A predictive study
Neglecting academic work is a common problem among students. This problem becomes more intense when students have access to the internet provided by universities for instructional purposes. They engage in non-academic online activities instead of doing academic work. This research study aimed to examine the effect of cyberloafing and internet addiction on academic procrastination at the university level. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of cyberloafing on academic procrastination and to examine the role of internet addiction in academic procrastination among university students. The study was quantitative in nature. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. 830 students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences were selected conveniently to collect data on all three variables. Research instruments were adopted for all three variables. Data were entered in SPSS software for analysis. Regression analysis was run to find out the effect of cyberloafing and internet addiction. The results revealed that both research hypotheses were failed to accept. Cyberloafing and internet addiction both are predictors of academic procrastination among university students.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hina Gull, Dr. Asif Iqbal, Dr. Rabia Maryam, Dr. Muhammad Usman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Operational Nexus Between Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP): Implications for Pakistan
The evolving security environment along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has increased concerns about the relationship between Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Although the two groups differ in ideology, leadership, organizational structure, and strategic objectives, evidence suggests growing operational overlap between them. This study examines the nature and extent of this relationship and assesses its implications for Pakistan’s national and regional security. Using a qualitative research approach based on recent United Nations reports, think-tank studies, academic research, and credible journalistic sources, the study analyzes patterns of cooperation, shared territory, recruitment, financing, training, and logistics. The findings indicate that TTP and ISKP do not constitute a formal alliance but have developed an operational nexus involving limited tactical coordination and overlapping support networks, despite continued ideological rivalry. The study argues that this flexible relationship increases the complexity of Pakistan’s counterterrorism challenge. It concludes that Pakistan requires integrated intelligence, border management, regional cooperation, and group-specific counterterrorism strategies to address this evolving threat.
Copyright (c) 2026 Asad Ali (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Overcoming barriers to effective technology integration in higher education institutions
It is extremely important for the use of technology in order to improve teaching, learning, and student engagement in higher education. But still, technological, institutional, and pedagogical barriers exist that prevent effective implementation of technology in education. The purpose of this study was to find out the major barriers to the integration of technology. This study has tested the effectiveness of an intervention based on technology integration in solving these barriers among the undergraduate students at Government Postgraduate College, Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Pretest-posttest experimental research design was used for this study. There were 120 undergraduate students in the population of this study and 92 students were selected randomly. The descriptive statistics were employed to detect the existing barriers, whereas the inferential statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The findings revealed that poor technological infrastructure, low digital competence, lack of institutional support, and poor internet connection were the main barriers to efficient technology integration. After conducting the intervention, there were observed significant changes in students' digital competence, technology integration perceptions, and involvement in educational processes, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the intervention in mitigating the influence of barriers. In conclusion, the present study has shown that the specific strategy of technology integration backed up by the institutional commitment, sufficient infrastructure, and continuous digital skills development can effectively deal with barriers and improve teaching and learning in higher education institutions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rehana Luqman, Dr. Hafiz Kosar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Beyond revisionism and the status quo: China's strategy of selective reformism in the liberal international order
China's growing influence has fueled the discussion on the future of the Liberal International Order (LIO) while at the same time raising doubts about China's interaction with the current order. This article concentrates on the central puzzle: How to measure China's cooperation with and reform of the Liberal International Order while at the same time measuring its resistance? It is conceptual and qualitative in nature and applies the realist and liberal institutionalist perspectives to analyse China's behavior, followed by a discussion on the China's engagement in each of the dimensions of the LIO. The analysis shows that both of these viewpoints alone offer a plausible account of China's behavior abroad. Instead, China's actions indicate a policy of selective reformism that involves staying attuned to the institutions that advance its national interests, while attempting to reform the institutions in a gradual way that is not seen as compromising sovereignty and regime security. It is suggested that selective reformism is a more complete prism for analyzing China's current international actions and can aid in discussions of the development of the Liberal International Order in a multipolar world order.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Shahzaib, Dr. Abdul Basit Khan, Dr. Mian Muhammad Azhar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Personality dimensions, anger cognitions, anger expression and recidivism among homicide offenders
Mitigating the multidimensional complexities inherent in recidivism to achieve systemic crime reduction constitutes a formidable challenge for contemporary societies. This study examined the relationships among personality dimensions, Dark Tetrad traits, antisocial personality, anger cognitions, anger expression, and recidivism among individuals convicted of homicide and subsequently released on parole. Utilizing a purposive sampling technique, data were collected from 150 paroled individuals aged 30 to 70 years using Recidivism Risk Scale for Individuals Convicted of Homicide, Big Five Personality Inventory, Short Dark Tetrad, Antisocial Personality Disorder Scale, Angry Cognitions Scale, and Trait Anger Expression Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that recidivism was significantly predicted by extraversion, neuroticism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, antisocial personality, behavioral expression of anger-out, and cognitive tendencies toward demandingness and misattributing causation. Conversely, adaptive cognitive appraisal negatively predicted recidivism. While conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, narcissism, sadism, catastrophic evaluation, inflammatory labeling, overgeneralizing, and anger-in demonstrated correlational links, they did not emerge as significant predictors of recidivism. The findings of this study offer critical insights for law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, policymakers, researchers, and forensic psychologists.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ali Ajmal, Rabia Iftikhar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Critical infrastructure and security dynamics: Asymmetric threats and Gwadar security (2018–2026)
This article attempts to analyse the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) based on the Securitization-Development Paradox in the context of the Gwadar Port by taking a cue from 2018 to 2026. Development was coupled with the rising asymmetric campaign of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their special force called the ‘Majeed Brigade' who wanted to slow down the industrialization and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) during Phase-II. Utilizing the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) methodology and process-tracing methods, the study assesses the tactical transformation in the BLA's methods from ambushes in rural areas to planned urban fedayeen attacks, attacks on foreign personnel and simultaneous interdictions of transportation systems for economic attrition. The state responded by creating a very fortified "enclave securitization" system through the Special Security Division (SSD), maritime task forces and biometric surveillance perimeters. Protection of primary port terminals limited local mobility, undermined livelihoods of artisanal fishermen and neglected the shortfalls in municipal utilities, which led to a massively mobilized civic movement against the military (Haq Do Tehreek) and dissuaded private foreign direct investment.
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)
Copyright (c) 2026 Ajmal Khan, Sajjad Haider Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Linking security and development in China-Central Asia relations: Regional interdependence and SDG advancement
This study examines the security parameters of the China-Central Asia partnership and their role in strengthening regional as well as trans-regional collaboration toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By using the lens of Complex Interdependence Theory, the study conceptualizes security as interlocked with institutional, economic, infrastructural and developmental processes rather than as a domain solely confined to military relationships. A qualitative research approach is used to examine Beijing’s security engagement with the Central Asian republics through multiple channels of communication or interaction including border security, counterterrorism, energy security, infrastructure protection and regional security-based cooperation that enable conditions for stability, development and connectivity, thereby sustaining SDG-related outcomes. China’s development-oriented security approach integrates development and security by viewing political stability, economic growth and regional cooperation as equally reinforcing elements of a broader security strategy. The study mainly argues that security cooperation between China and Central Asian republics goes beyond traditional threat management by connecting security with development and regional interdependence and establishing potential pathways across the region for advancing sustainable development.
Copyright (c) 2026 Fatima Rasheed Ahmad, Dr. Bilal Bin Liaqat, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Climate finance and corporate resilience: Building sustainable financial strategies in an era of climate risk
Copyright (c) 2026 Wasif Mir, Babar, Saba Mahmood, Muhammad Zain Bashir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
European Union external migration policy: A historical perspective
This article drops the historical evolution of the European Union's (EU) external migration policy from its early prescriptive foundations in the 1980s and 1990s to its consolidation as a securitized and externalized authority regime between 2015 and 2025. Drawing on official EU documents, Eurostat and Frontex numerical series, and a comprehensive form of peer-reviewed literature, the study rebuilds the sequence of institutional milestones the Schengen Agreement (1985), the Tampere and Amsterdam frameworks, the 2005 Global Approach to Migration, the 2011 Global Approach to Migration and Movement, the 2015 Valletta Summit and Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the 2016 EU–Turkey Statement, the 2020 New Pact on Migration and Asylum, and its 2024 acceptance that together define the trajectory of the EU as an external migration actor. Using a qualitative historical and documented method, the article places these developments within the broader theoretical debate between securitization (Buzan et al., 1998; Huysmans, 2006) and humanitarian-normative framings (Barnett & Weiss, 2011; Chandler, 2011) of EU external action. Quantitative indicators of asylum applications and irregular border crossings for 2015–2025 are offered to illustrate how policy instruments correlate with instabilities in migratory pressure. The findings suggest that the EU's external migration policy has advanced along a path-dependent trajectory in which humanitarian language and restraint-oriented externalization have become mutually strengthening rather than contrary features of governance. The article accomplishes that understanding this historical route is essential for rendering the EU's modern posture under the newly adopted Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Riaz Khan, Dr. Syed Nouman Ali Shah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Impacts of rapid population growth, urbanization and Climate Change on water security risks in Pakistan’s down stream areas
Water shortage has become the most significant type of non-traditional security that is facing Pakistan especially in the downstream areas of Indus River Basin. This study discussed how current population growth, increasing urbanization, and climate change convergence compound water scarcity and its socioeconomic and environmental impacts. The study conducted using a qualitative research methodology, in which the close nexus of effects of demographic pressure and increase in water demand, inefficient water governance, hydrological variability, and climate-induced alterations in the Indus River System are analyzed by extensively reviewing and examining academic literature, government reports, policy reports, and other international publications. The results indicate that population growth has largely decreased the availability of water per capita, as well as urbanization and industrialization have raised domestic, agricultural, and industrial water demand. The effects of climate change have also interfered with the hydrological cycle by causing a receding of glaciers, unpredictable monsoon cycles, recurrent floods, extended droughts, and rising of the sea level leading to reduced water quality and quantity in down-stream regions. The paper concludes that water crisis in Pakistan is a compilation of the interaction of the three factors of demographic, environmental, and governance factors rather than being a one-factor cause. It highlights the urgency of integrated water resources management, climate-resistant infrastructure, institutional reforms, equitable water distribution, demand-side management, sustainable population policies to enhance the Pakistan long-term water security and socioeconomic resilience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Seerat Batool, Dr. Bilal Bin Liaqat, Aamir Nawaz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
From biradari to party gatekeeping: Institutional design and women's electoral representation in Punjab's Local Governments
Pakistan's Devolution of Power Plan set aside one-third of every local council seat for women. The elections held under it, in 2001 and again in 2005, put tens of thousands of women into elected office in Punjab alone. Thirteen years later the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 cut that share to roughly fifteen per cent of a union council, and it changed something less visible at the same time: reserved seats would no longer be filled by voters but by the councillors whom voters had just elected. Polling under the new Act took place in 2015. This article asks what those two decisions did to the terms on which women entered local councils and worked inside them. The study is documentary. I read the two statutes, the election rules attached to them, and the published research on both against a coding frame built from feminist institutionalism and political opportunity structure theory, and organised around five questions: what opening the law created, who decided which woman filled it, to whom she answered afterwards, what the seat let her do, and what happened if the rule was ignored. Three of those five axes shifted sharply between the regimes. Two did not shift at all. Under both statutes the reserved seat carried no budget of its own and no guaranteed committee place. What changed was the shape of the exclusion, not its effect.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mudassar Ijaz, Dr. Adeel Irfan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Geopolitics of data sovereignty: Digital borders and the fragmentation of global order
This article examines the geopolitics of data sovereignty, the geopolitical rivalry among relevant state actors to assert regulatory authority over digital networks, the crossing of borders with data and the normative rules of the game in cyberspace. This research employs a comparative, qualitative and secondary data analysis method, which is in line with the most different systems design. The research explores different governance models implemented by the great powers such as United States, the European Union, and People’s Republic of China, India and Russia and places each within the theoretical paradigms of weaponized interdependence, digital geopolitics, and the nexus of data, space, and power. The paper suggests that the global order is experiencing a real digital fragmentation, due to the interplay between different regulatory visions and rules of data localization, as well as diverging cybersecurity agendas, that are giving rise to a de facto splinternet, which is reflecting and exacerbating systemic tensions. The statistical evidence collected from various sources such as ITU, World Bank, UNCTAD, McKinsey Global Institute, Statista, OECD, Freedom House, IDC, Gartner, ECIPE and thirteen original comparative tables prove that Data Sovereignty is not just a technico-administrative question but has become a vital instrument of geopolitical power in the 21st century.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Syed Shameel Ahmed Quadri, Rakhshanda Munir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Environmental humanities and sustainable development: Reimagining human-nature relations in the Anthropocene
In recent years, with climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the intensification of desertification and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, environmental issues are no longer confined to the realm of natural science research; they now encompass a comprehensive range of historical, cultural, ethical, social, economic and political concerns. The emergence of the Environmental Humanities has provided a new interdisciplinary perspective from which to reinterpret the environmental crisis. This paper examines the historical evolution of the relationship between humans and nature and concludes that, whilst people have traditionally relied on natural resources to sustain their livelihoods, the advent of modern civilisation—with coal, steam power and, subsequently, oil, electricity and modern industrial technology—has freed them from the direct constraints of organic energy sources. With the emergence of the energy crisis, the concept of sustainable development has attracted widespread attention within the academic community.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Qu Qiumei (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Teachers’ experiences of implementing inclusive education practices in private early years schools in Karachi: An exploratory investigation
Inclusive education is a goal of providing learning opportunities and participation for children with diverse abilities and learning needs. The present study aimed to examine the experiences of implementing inclusive education practices in private early years school setting in Karachi from the teacher perspective with special focus on how the teachers understand inclusive education, their teaching strategies and challenges. Qualitative exploratory research design was used. Semi-structured interviews with 10 early years’ teachers who were chosen through purposive sampling were used to gather data and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. The results showed that, in general, the teachers had a positive approach and awareness of inclusive education focusing on the main aspects of equal opportunities, participation, diversity, belonging and supportive classroom environments. Teachers reported implementing a range of inclusive practices such as using visual aids, offering differentiated instruction, providing cues that made instructions easier to follow, repeating, or over-explain tasks, activities where students are able to learn through doing, peer learning, and interactive presentations. Nonetheless, the implementation was hampered by insufficient teacher training, poor support of the lesson materials in the classroom, large class size, behavioural problems and time-management pressure. The need for ongoing professional development and networking with parents and other professionals, supportive leadership, and sufficient institutional resources were also highlighted. It is concluded that teachers are dedicated to inclusive education but in private environments of early years need greater institutional support, suitable training and better resources to ensure that this is being realized in practice.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sahar Iftikhar Siddiqi, Dr. Victoria Joseph (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Computer vision and deep learning for climate-resilient agriculture: Improving soil health, crop protection, and community livelihoods
Agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods are under threat from climate change, soil degradation, crop diseases and outbreaks of pests, and intelligent and resilient farming systems are needed. The study focused on the potential use of computer vision and deep learning to enhance soil health monitoring, protection of crops, adaptation to climate change and community livelihoods. The design was quantitative with the use of a structured questionnaire with 5-point likert scale for data collection, from a sample of 300 farmers and agricultural stakeholders. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were applied to analyze the data. The findings showed high mean scores for computer vision (M = 4.18, SD = 0.62), deep learning (M = 4.24, SD = 0.59), soil health (M = 4.07, SD = 0.67), crop protection (M = 4.31, SD = 0.55), climate resilience (M = 4.16, SD = 0.61), and community livelihoods (M = 4.09, SD = 0.64). The analyses showed that computer vision (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) and deep learning (β = 0.48, p < 0.001) significantly predicted the variance of climate resilience (62%). The predictors accounted for 67% of variance in crop protection, and the deep learning had the larger contribution (β = 0.52, p < 0.001). The research demonstrated that incorporating computer vision and deep learning can boost agricultural monitoring, protection, climate adaptation, and livelihood resilience. The results suggest investment in affordable, farmers tailored, locally adaptable AI solutions for sustainable agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2026 Basit Amin, Jawaria Nasir, Dr. Imran Khan, Hussain Shah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The role of assistive technology in improving learning outcomes for students with special educational needs
Background: The role of assistive technology in inclusive education is growing, given that such technology facilitates the student with special educational needs to access the curriculum content, communicate, and perform tasks, and participate actively in instruction in the classroom. The objective of the study was to review the role of assistive technology in enhancing academic performance, independence, engagement, and confidence as well as peer participation among students with special educational needs. A convergent mixed-methods design was used with 96 students from eight inclusive schools. This intervention consisted of text to speech, speech to text, word prediction, graphic organizers, virtual manipulatives and augmentative communication applications. Pre-post curriculum based tests, classroom observations, teacher interviews, student responses and field notes were used to collect data over a period of eight weeks as part of the intervention. It exhibited statistically significant changes in reading, writing, mathematics accuracy, task completion, engagement, independence, peer participation, and confidence. There were reduced teacher prompts and increased tool-use fluency. Domain matched tools yielded higher gains including reading access tools to reading, writing support tools to writing, and mathematics tools to mathematical performance. Stronger outcomes were predicted with implementation fidelity, teacher training, and classroom support. Assistive technology is most efficient when chosen based on the needs of the learners, it becomes a part of regular lessons, it has to be supported by trained teachers, students have to accept it. It must not be seen as a teaching aid but as a device and an electronic supplement.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Farzana Jabeen Khoso, Rafia Naz Manganhar, Mudasir Saeed, Rizwan Ahmed Mangnejo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
A comparative performance analysis of RISC (ARM/RISC-V) and CISC (x86) architectures in modern computing systems: Power efficiency and workload-specific benchmarking
This paper overcomes that gap by methodically consolidating and comparing published benchmark data that has been confirmed by hardware review sites, as well as by SPEC and the official hardware manufacturers' specifications, for various mobile-, desktop-, cloud-, embedded- and artificial-intelligence-related workload types. However, the break is very clear: ARM-based RISC processors, such as those used in Apple's M4 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X-series, offer significantly better efficiency performance and performance per Watt for thermally restricted machines, where x86-based CISC processors from Intel and AMD remain competitive in sustained throughput, legacy software support and specialized high-performance computing tasks. When it comes to cloud infrastructure, AWS Graviton4 instances showing significantly better latency than X86 based instances in various workloads, however others showing either matched or improved performance per watt when compared to X86 based instances; indicating that while architecture may be superior in some workloads, it's not in others. While still a bit of a green land in the world of chips compared to ARM and x86, the open-source RISC-V ecosystem has seen an eight-fold performance boost over the last 5 years, and is being embraced by edge and embedded application makers. The paper argues that one should not be influenced by the preconceived notions about the superiority of RISC or CISC in selecting architecture since it must depend on application-specific requirements, power constraints and overall software-ecosystem cost.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zeeshan Safdar, Saleem Zubair, Ayesha Saddiqa (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Climate Change as a security challenge in a warming world
Climate change has ceased to be an environmental problem and has become a serious security challenge that carries deep consequences not only for national but global peace and security. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological decline are aggravating conflicts, relocating populations, and intensifying rivalry over scarce resources. These issues challenge the traditional concept of security, requiring states to reassess their security strategies. The study's objectives are to evaluate climate change as a challenge to international and national security and to address the question how climate change is a threat to global and national security. This research recommends that, to overcome these challenges, states must integrate climate change issues into national security policies and balance environmental sustainability with geopolitical stability, which is essential to stop climate change from further threatening the global order.
Copyright (c) 2026 Prof. Dr. Salma Naz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Assessing the socio-economic impact of Climate Change on rural farmers in District Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Climate change is increasingly recognized as a socio-economic stressor, particularly for smallholder farming communities whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources. This study examined the socio-economic effects of climate change on farmers in District Kohat. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from farming households and analyzed through descriptive statistics and bivariate Tau-C correlation analysis. Inferential analysis revealed statistically significant associations between climate change and socio-economic well-being across all tested variables (p < 0.000). A strong relationship was found between climate change and household food insecurity (Tau-C = 0.329, p < 0.000), followed by income loss due to crop failure (Tau-C = 0.310, p < 0.000) and rising poverty levels among farmers (Tau-C = 0.289, p < 0.000). Agricultural productivity (Tau-C = 0.283, p < 0.000) and government support inadequacy (Tau-C = 0.223, p < 0.000) also showed significant associations with socio-economic impact. These findings demonstrate that climate change is a compounding socio-economic stressor affecting income, food access, and employment patterns among rural farming households in Kohat. The government needs to create agricultural input schemes to help lower the financial burden on farmers in rural areas, resulting from the increasing cost of farm inputs caused by climate change.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mr. Zahid Khan, Dr. Shahid Khan, Mr. Rahim Ullah, Mr. Muhammad Arif (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Biosecurity as national security: A comparative analysis of biosecurity strategies in the United States, China, and the European Union
Biosecurity has increasingly moved beyond the traditional domain of public health to become an important component of national security. This shift raises questions about how major political actors define biological threats and translate them into national and international policy. This study comparatively examines how the United States, China, and the European Union (EU) conceptualize, institutionalize, and implement biosecurity policies related to pandemics, biotechnology risks, and bioterrorism. Drawing on securitization theory and the global health security literature, the study uses a comparative qualitative analysis of relevant policies, strategies, and institutional arrangements. It finds that all three actors increasingly frame biological threats as major security concerns, but they differ in their threat perceptions, institutional structures, and approaches to balancing security with scientific and economic openness. The United States increasingly links biosecurity to strategic competition and supply-chain security; China integrates it within a broader national-security framework; while the EU emphasizes collective resilience, institutional coordination, and strategic autonomy. These differences demonstrate that the securitization of biosecurity is not producing a single global model but rather distinct governance approaches shaped by different political and strategic contexts. The analysis further shows that these approaches have important implications for global health governance, scientific cooperation, international coordination, and the implementation of the 2025 WHO Pandemic Agreement. The study concludes that securitization can strengthen national preparedness and institutional capacity, but excessive emphasis on national control and strategic competition may weaken the international cooperation required to manage biological risks that transcend national borders.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Sultan Salah Ud Din (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Between here and there: Transcultural reception, diaspora identity, and the limits of hybridity in Hanif Kureishi's Black British cinema
This article examines the transcultural reception of Hanif Kureishi's screenplays My Beautiful Laundrette (dir. Stephen Frears, UK, 1985) and My Son the Fanatic (dir. Udayan Prasad, UK, 1997), drawing on qualitative audience interviews conducted in Lahore, Pakistan, and situating them within two decades of subsequent scholarship. The original empirical findings—that Pakistani audiences resist identification with Kureishi's British-Pakistani characters—are reread in light of contemporary debates around post-9/11 Islamophobia, the post-Brexit reconstitution of British multiculturalism, queer postcolonial theory, and the limits of Bhabha's 'third space' as a framework for transcultural film reception. The article argues that the cultural separation experienced by Pakistani audiences is not a failure of aesthetic literacy but a structurally produced response rooted in colonial history and geopolitical realignments that have sharpened rather than dissolved the boundaries between British-Pakistani diasporic identity and 'home' culture. At the same time, it resists pessimistic closure by tracing the ways in which the films' concerns—neoliberal exploitation, generational conflict, queer transgression, and religious radicalisation—have acquired new urgencies forty years after Laundrette's release.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Hasan Zafar, Maqsood Alam, Dr Beenish Masood (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Reservoir characterization of sawan gas field using seismic inversion and machine learning algorithms, central indus basin, Pakistan
The study's primary goal is to identify the thin sands packages of B and C Intervals of Lower Goru Formation of Sawan Gas Field, by using machine learning along with reservoir characterization by performing seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, petrophysics, Rock physics modelling and using machine learning algorithms. The Sawan Gas Field is situated within the Central Indus Basin of Pakistan, and its geological setting is characterized by extensional tectonic processes. Following the completion of seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, and petrophysical analysis, the findings indicate that the C Interval of the Lower Goru Formation within the Sawan Gas Field exhibits a more substantial hydrocarbon potential when contrasted with the B-Interval. Rock physics modeling have used for the prediction of P and S waves variations and how Poisson’s ratio occurs. Rock physics depicted the missing log prediction like S-wave specifically and fluid substitution also occurred with different conditions to confirm reservoir availability. Model Based Inversion (MBI) have been used to predict and confirm better results came from seismic interpretation. Wavelet was extracted from the control line and the correlation occurred. LFM (Low Frequency Models) have been generated as well. Afterwards Quality control of data was occurred by inverted techniques. Lastly to confirm results with seismic inversion technique, Machine learning (PNN) based on Bayesian classifier method which gives reliable prediction of petro physical properties, so it is used predict Volume of clay prediction, Porosity prediction and Saturation of water was predicted by Actual and Predicted values.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hafiz Muhammad Taqi, Abdul Basit (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Climate governance and sustainable development: Rethinking policy responses for a resilient future
This research focused on the studies regarding the role of climate governance, policy effectiveness, and institutional resilience in sustainable development. A quantitative research technique was chosen, which involved a structured questionnaire administered to 350 respondents from different institutions (NGOs, private sector, academic institutions, and government institutions) active in the climate and sustainability sectors, drawn using simple random sampling. The data were analyzed descriptively, with reliability, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS Version 27. The reliability test showed good internal consistency in this study, ranging from 0.876 to 0.918 Cronbach's α. The descriptive statistics showed positive perceptions of all the variables studied, ranging from 4.09 to 4.26. The research found that all factors of climate governance, policy effectiveness, institutional resilience, as well sustainable development, showed positive correlations with each other (ranging from 0.653 to 0.781; p < 0.01), as obtained through correlation analysis. Multiple regression analysis revealed that climate governance (β = 0.352, p < 0.001), policy effectiveness (β = 0.291, p < 0.001), and institutional resilience (β = 0.334, p < 0.001) are significant determinants of sustainable development. The regression model explained 74.3% of the variance in sustainable development (R² = 0.743; F = 334.58; p < 0.001). The study attributes high governance quality and good governance performance, through policy enforcement and institutional strengthening, to high sustainable development outcomes. It concludes that these three play significant roles in supporting sustainable development. The results are relevant to policymakers who are interested in strengthening Climate Governance mechanisms for a sustainable future.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sultan Mahmood, Wajahat Hussain, Zainab Ranjha (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Buy now, pay later adoption among generation z in Pakistan: An integrated cognitive, psychological, and social perspective
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is a rapidly expanding form of digitally enabled short-term credit, yet the factors that move young consumers from considering BNPL to actually using it remain insufficiently understood in emerging economies. This study examines cognitive, psychological, and social antecedents of BNPL usage among Generation Z consumers in Pakistan. Financial literacy and digital literacy represent cognitive factors; perceived ownership of borrowed money and perceived pain of payment represent psychological factors; and social media financial influence and financial parenting represent social factors. Intention to use BNPL is specified as the immediate predictor of usage. Data were obtained through a questionnaire survey of 337 Pakistani Gen Z BNPL users selected through convenience sampling and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results show that financial literacy, perceived pain of payment, and financial parenting reduce intention, whereas digital literacy, perceived ownership of borrowed money, and social media financial influence increase it. Intention positively predicts actual BNPL usage, and all seven hypotheses are supported. The study integrates financial capability, payment psychology, and socialization within one intention-based model. It offers guidance for regulators, educators, families, platforms, and retailers seeking to promote informed, transparent, and responsible use of deferred-payment services among young consumers in Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2026 Waseem Rana, Hannan Afzal, Inam Ullah Khan, Ian Mobeen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The Role of energy storage in climate change mitigation: Pathways toward sustainable energy systems
This study aimed to review existing literature and evaluate recent evidence related to technological innovation, environmental benefits, policy support and deployment challenges, with a focus on the role of energy storage in decarbonization. A qualitative systematic literature review design was used with secondary data collection approach from peer-reviewed journal articles and international energy reports. A total of 120 publications (from 2020-26) were screened, and 80 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in the final sample for thematic analysis. The results revealed that 35.0% of the analysed studies were on lithium-ion battery storage, 22.5% of the studies were on pumped hydro storage, 17.5% of the studies were on hydrogen storage, 13.8% of the studies were on thermal energy storage, and 11.2% of the studies were on compressed air energy storage. In addition, 31.3 per cent of the studies cited the integration of renewable energy as the main advantage of energy storage, followed by grid stability (23.7 per cent), carbon emission reduction (20 per cent), energy security (15 per cent), and economic efficiency (10 per cent). The review also found that significant capital investment, reliance on critical minerals, recycling issues, and regulatory uncertainty are significant issues for broad-scale implementation. The study found that by increasing grid reliability, improving the use of renewables, and contributing to global climate change mitigation, energy storage was one of the most important enablers for low-carbon energy transitions. Further technological innovation, policy support, and sustainable investment were still key to meeting resilient and sustainable energy systems.
Copyright (c) 2026 S Mehmood Ullah Shah, Shaoor Ahmed, Dr. Imran Khan, Sughra Bibi, Intikhab Ulfat (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Antecedents of buy now pay later usage among Gen-Z in Pakistan: The moderating role of financial self-control
Customer credit in the digital age has been forever changed by buy now pay later (BNPL), which lets consumers purchase something now and pay for it in instalments over time. The current study aims to explore the role of cognitive (financial literacy and digital literacy) and psychological factors (perceived ownership of borrowed money, and perceived pain of payment) in influencing BNPL usage among the Gen Z consumers in Pakistan. The data were gathered by conducting a physical survey with 337 Pakistani Gen Z customers who have already availed BNPL, and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modeling. All of the eight hypotheses are supported. The intention is negatively associated with financial literacy and perceived pain of payment, whereas digital literacy and perceived ownership of borrowed money are positively associated with intention. The intention to use is a strong predictor of actual use. Financial self-control reduces positive influence on intention, increases the deterrent effect of payment pain and reduces the conversion of intention to usage. The study builds on the theory of planned behavior by incorporating cognitive capability, payment psychology and self-regulation in the context of a credit market in an emerging economy. It also provides practical recommendations to regulators, educators, providers and retailers interested in responsible BNPL growth with youth.