Media and National Identity Formation in Pakistan: A Historical and Contemporary Analysis
The media has played a significant role in shaping national identity, a subject of growing interest globally and, more specifically, in Pakistan, where it has actively influenced public perceptions of the nation’s identity and its position in the world. This paper seeks to explore the construction of national identity in Pakistan and how various forms of media ranging from state-controlled traditional outlets to social media platforms have constituted and transformed Pakistan as both a space for and a component of what is recognized as national identity. In constructing the ‘image’ of Pakistan after independence, the media particularly state media was instrumental in promoting a unified Muslim identity in South Asia. In contemporary times, however, the proliferation of private and social media has diversified these narratives, resulting in a fractured yet dynamic national identity.
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Media, National Identity, Pakistan, Historical Analysis, Social Media, State-Controlled Media, Public Perception
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(1) Tazeem Imran
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Sadia Masood
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Uzma Malik
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Climate Change and Water Security in Pakistan: Policy Gaps and Strategic Responses
As Pakistan is heavily reliant on water for agriculture, energy production, and economic stability, climate change is now one of the most critical threats to water security. With aggravating global warming, Pakistan's uncertain and already fragile waters are under a threat from the variability of rainfall and an increase in temperatures, and glaciers receding. This paper analyzes the synergy of climate change and water security in Pakistan, the policy gaps, and strategic responses to minimize the ramifications of the reduced availability of water. The study points out the essentials for overhauling water governance, including reviewing existing practices of water management and the relevant policies. This paper advocates for strong frameworks to improve water security and boost the country's resilience to climate uncertainties.
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Climate Change, Water Security, Pakistan, Policy Gaps, Strategic Responses, Water Management, Resilience
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(1) Muhammad Shoaib Malik
Associate Professor, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Umbreen Akhtar
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Umair Arshad
MPhil Graduate, Department of Educational Sciences, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Intersectional Challenges and Support Systems: Understanding Marginalized Student’s Experiences in Public Sector Universities in Islamabad, Pakistan
In the current world, the experiences within campus environments play a pivotal role in shaping the learner’s cognitive and developmental experiences. Much research is already being conducted regarding the challenges faced by students in public universities, such as academic difficulties, mental health issues, and campus safety concerns; however, it does not delve into how these challenges manifest differently for various marginalized groups, including those from rural areas, minority ethnicities, and low-income backgrounds. This research proposal aims to investigate the experiences of marginalized student groups within the campus environment of a public sector university located in the Federal Capital of Pakistan. The research, thereby using a qualitative method in which interviews will analyze the experiences faced by marginalized students in depth using Interactional Narrative Analysis. By synthesizing findings, the research will offer actionable recommendations for policy, practice, and future research aimed at fostering inclusivity, equity, and student success within the public sector university.
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Marginalized Student Groups, Campus Environment, Public Sector University, Federal Capital of Pakistan, Qualitative Approach
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(1) Iqra Ajmal
M.Phil Scholar, Department of English Language and Literature, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Islamic Approach of Good Governance in the Contemporary Age: A Comparative Study of Pakistan and Malaysia's Political Systems
This article explores the institutionalization of the Islamic governance principles of adl (justice), shufra (consultation), muhasbah (accountability), maqasid (public interest), and stewardship in Pakistan and Malaysia. A corpus of 2000 current documentary resources was compiled. The analysis reveals two different pathways. Malaysia has placed more stress on procedural formalism: compulsory consultations with published minutes and response to comments, earlier audits with more prominent follow-through, and ex-post facto reasoning (which invariably indicates constitutional preeminence) to cope with civil Sharīah overlaps. Pakistan more frequently mobilizes adl and public interest through adjudication and public-interest litigation, which produces salient precedents and access via legal-aid references, but with less routinization of consultative and stewardship protections in social and family-law arenas. Our suggested reforms include standardized consultation windows and reason-giving, cross-system standing reference procedures, maqasid-congruent public scorecards in priority sectors, and a new module we call neo-Sufi accountability.
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Islamic Governance; Shura; Maqasid Al-Sharia; Accountability; Legal Pluralism; Pakistan; Malaysia
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(1) Umbreen Akhtar
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Sara Gurchani
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(3) Nadeem Tariq
Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Language, Islamabad, Pakistan.