PAKISTAN

FOOD & AGRICULTURE TRADING PROJECTS UNDER BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE: A REVIEW

Zheng Feng — 2023-12-27

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 80% of South Asia depends on agriculture. However, apart from India, South Asian countries do not contribute significantly to the global agricultural market. China contributes more than $2.65 billion to the global agricultural market through agriculture. These statistics pose a question: can China's Belt and Road Initiative increase South Asia's agricultural production like China's? This study reviews the latest research on the agricultural aspect of the BRI and its expected contribution to the South Asian economy. Research has shown that the BRI can increase agricultural production in South Asian countries and, if implemented, can increase the economic development of South Asia.

ASSESSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO SUSTAIN POST-CONFLICT PEACEBUILDING PROCESS IN SWAT

Muhammad Wajeeh Shahrukh — 2023-12-27

This research project focused on exploring opportunities for the youth of Swat in the post conflict peacebuilding scenario for the sustainability of the peacebuilding process. This works is based on the quantitative and qualitative data gathered using purposive sampling from 100 respondents comprising of the youth of Swat including male and female youth, their parents, politicians and journalists, youth activists from NGO sector, civil and military administration, and Village Defence Committee member utilizing the structured and semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. This is a pilot study on the youth of Swat since the commencement of post conflict peacebuilding process and aim to explore the existing opportunities provided to youth of Swat at various levels i.e., cultural, political, social and economic. The evidences from this research have suggested that youth have a very positive role and approach towards the post-conflict peacebuilding process but there is no concrete policy adopted to sustain the peacebuilding process and to engage the youth of Swat for the promotion of peace. Despite, the youth is excelling in the promotion of peace at individual and societal level on their behalf despite various constraints imposed by the society.

ANALYZING THE WAY PAKISTANI MEDIA COVERS HUMANITARIAN ISSUES DURING VIOLENT CONFLICTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE GAZA WAR IN REAL TIME PERSPECTIVE

Jamaluddin — 2023-12-27

This study contently analyzes the media coverage of the Palestine-Israel conflict in the context of human rights violations and policy issue. To examine the Pakistani media approach towards this burning issue, two leading English newspapers, i.e., Daily Dawn and The News, were selected from the print media, which have considerable influence over policy issues, and they are reportedly highlighting the international conflicts more in the broader context of Pakistan’s foreign policy on one side and giving noticeable space to human’s rights, which are more likely to be violated during conflict. The findings of this real-time study show that casualties and human rights violations dominated the overall coverage of the conflict, indicating the inclusive framing of the conflict as ‘humanitarian crises’ where possibly human rights were compromised during combat between Hamas and Israel. The findings also suggest that both newspapers collectively gave higher supportive coverage to Palestinian or otherwise Hamas’ stance. While Hamas was made accountable for small amount of critical coverage, which was shaped mainly in the context of human rights violations.

FOSTERING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH TRADITIONAL NARRATIVES: PASHTUN FOLKLORE IN COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

Asghar Khan — 2023-12-27

This paper explores the significance of folklore in fostering community resilience within Pashtun society as a response to violent extremism and addressing social conflicts. The study aims to illuminate the mechanisms by which folklore, encompassing traditional narratives, oral traditions, and cultural practices, can play a pivotal role in promoting peacebuilding initiatives and empowering local communities in their struggle against terrorism and extremism. To conduct this study, qualitative research methods were employed, involving the collection of both secondary and primary data. Secondary data was acquired through a comprehensive content analysis of folklore and relevant scholarly sources. Primary data was gathered through ethnographic interviews, group discussions, and personal observations. The findings of this research underscore the substantial contribution of Pashtun folklore to the enhancement of community resilience in countering violent extremism. Recognizing the distinctive role of Pashtun folklore in shaping identities, fostering social cohesion, advancing inclusivity and pluralism, as well as transmitting fundamental values, this paper suggests that policymakers and practitioners can formulate effective strategies to harness this indigenous knowledge system for sustainable conflict resolution.

CONTENT ANALYSIS OF STUDIES ON CPEC COVERAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PAKISTANI AND CHINESE NEWSPAPERS

Gao Yiying — 2023-12-27

This paper analyses contents of two scholarly articles focusing on the examination of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) coverage in newspapers from Pakistan and China. The study aims to elucidate the portrayal of CPEC in leading publications such as Dawn, China Daily, The News International, and other selected newspapers included in the content analysis. The research posits a hypothesis suggesting that print media from both nations tend to present a positive image of CPEC. However, this study endeavors to empirically substantiate this hypothesis through a meticulous content analysis. The comparative examination encompasses a thorough assessment of objectives, hypotheses, content, methodologies, references, statistical data, findings, summaries, and conclusions presented in the selected papers. The findings aim to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the framing and representation of CPEC in the media discourse of both countries

FACTORS INFLUENCING SLD PUPILS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Jamil Ahmed Sheikh — 2023-12-27

The objective behind this study is to identify the problems faced by SLD (Specific Learning Disability) pupils, such as learning and writing disabilities, in Pakistan. In this particular study, a relationship between SLD pupils' and academic performance is explored. Through semi-structured interviews and survey studies, data for the paper has been drawn from teachers, principals, SLD pupils, and their parents through purposive techniques. It was found that teachers and parents do not have sufficient knowledge about dyslexia, which creates a lot of issues in identifying the SLD student at an earlier stage. The brain-based learning disability varies from person to person, which creates trouble remembering words and their spellings, phonological processing (difficult to understand speech and sounds), or it also includes rapid visual-verbal responding. Moreover, teachers and parents contribute negatively towards SLD pupils, which results in academic failure, a dropout rate, low intelligence, and low self-esteem. Due to SLD, pupils face various issues such as emotional neglect, loneliness, lack of attention; social maturity; hopelessness; poor self-esteem and image; and social and physical expulsion from school to universities. The study revealed that focusing on a variety of components, such as enhanced teaching approaches, early interventions, and a supportive atmosphere, did not harm their psychological and emotional well-being at the school and family levels. This not only allows for the early diagnosis of a kid with SLD, but it also allows for earlier intervention, which leads to improved academic achievement. Furthermore, parent and teacher training and awareness impact children's self-advocacy, resilience against SLD, and academic performance.

MOTIVES OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE: A STUDY OF TOURISTS OF SWAT

Sajjad Khan — 2023-12-27

This study aimed to explain Motives of Social Media Use and their relationship with Personality Traits and Demographics of tourists of Swat. Every personality use social media according to their own need and gratification. The researcher selected Swat because for natural beauty and panoramic destinations famous country Pakistan has various tourists’ spots. In which one of these is valley Swat. The study analyzed the relationship between Motives of Social Media Use and the tourist and their Personality Traits. This study adopted quantitative methodology, while primary data was collected through survey Questionnaire. Tourists who visited Swat were selected as population and further multistage cluster sample of 300 respondents drawn for data collection. Data was analyzed on SPSS, using factor analysis, simple linear and hierarchical multiple regression. Findings of the study suggested Companionship, Exhibitionism, Relationship Maintenance, Passing Time, Share Problem, Information Searching and Information Seeking. Relationship Maintenance motive has a significant positive relation with Openness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Agreeableness except Extraversion. This study demonstrated that Neuroticism has also an association with Information Searching, Share Problem, Passing Time and Relationship Maintenance Motives. Age predicts social media motive Exhibitionism and Companionship negatively which means as age decreases Companionship and Exhibitionism increases. Further this study explored Motives of Social media Use as Companionship, Exhibitionism and Share Problem have a relationship with female