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13 Pages : 122-140

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).13      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).13      Published : Sep 2024

Evaluating the Economic and Trade Cooperation Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on China-Pakistan Relations

    The BRI, initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, sounds like an ambitious scheme for the development of integration and network cooperation scheme in the Asia-Europe-Africa region. Pakistan is the closest ally of BRI since it occupies a strategic position as a transit route for exchange. The China-Pakistan Financial Passage (CPEC), a lead venture of the BRI, centers on improving financial participation and foundation improvement between the two nations. Whereas the BRI has encouraged Pakistan's framework development and expanded two-sided exchange with China, challenges such as debasement, responsibility, obligation supportability, and territorial security dangers have risen. Understanding the BRI's effect on China-Pakistan relations makes a difference in the project's openings, challenges, and potential dangers while directing decision-making and collaborative endeavors. To evaluate the BRI's impact, a combination of descriptive, regression, and comparative analyses was used, along with qualitative insights from policymakers. Data conception further illustrates trends in trade, investment, and economic growth.

    CPEC, Trade, China-Pakistan, BRI's
    (1) Muhammad Ikhlaq
    MPA (Master's degree in Public Administration), School of Public Administration China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
    (2) Noor Fatima
    Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, National University Of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Tooba Zulfiqar
    M. Phil Scholar, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan.

Views: 30 · Downloads: 4

21 Pages : 212-227

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).21      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-III).21      Published : Sep 2024

Exploring the Conceptualization of Time and History in Hamid’s Moth Smoke and The Reluctant Fundamentalist: An Intertextual Study

    Interrogating the chronological and teleological notions of time, this study explores the contemporaneity and relevance of the 'past' in Mohsin Hamid's two novels, Moth Smoke (2000) and The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), by engaging Julia Kristeva's postulations on 'Intertextuality'. Hamid's fictions interweaving the past and present are examined by utilizing Mudrovcic's views on history to affirm the viability of the 'relational' and cyclic nature of time which is opposed to the temporal succession and linearity. Accordingly, the conceptualization of history in Hamid's novels is scrutinized in relation to the 'authentic history', in a bid to establish the significance of History in shaping the present and predicting the future, thereby, renewing the prominence of time and history in spatial, temporal and theoretical spheres in post-modern times. Claiming to be a valuable addition to the scholarship on 'Time-Studies', this research would also help in rethinking and reinterpreting Pakistani anglophone fiction via unhackneyed standpoints.

    Contemporaneity, Chronological, Intertextuality, Relational Time, Anglophone Pakistani Literature, Postmodern, Historicity
    (1) Muhammad Afzal Khan Janjua
    PhD Scholar/Lecturer, Department of English Literature, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Views: 19 · Downloads: 4

03 Pages : 20-32

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).03      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).03      Published : Dec 2024

Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Quasi-Fiscal Activities in Pakistan's Electricity Sector on the Fiscal Deficit

    This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of quasi-fiscal activities in the electricity sector on Pakistan's fiscal deficit, using time series data from 1973 to 2022. The Bound and ARDL tests are employed to analyze the long-run cointegration among the variables. The results indicate that the variables are cointegrated in the long run and that the one-year lagged values of hidden costs and exchange rates significantly impact the fiscal deficit both in the long and short run. Trade openness has a statistically significant impact on the fiscal deficit in the long run but no significant impact in the short run. GDP does not show a statistically significant impact on the fiscal deficit in either the long or short run. The study suggests that the government should encourage the privatization of distribution companies (DISCOs), phase out untargeted subsidies, promote renewable energy, and maintain a stable exchange rate.

    Quasi-Fiscal Activities, Hidden Cost, Fiscal deficit of Pakistan, ARDL Test, State Owned Enterprises
    (1) Sabeel Khan
    Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Economics, Islamia College Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Fazale Wahid
    Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Islamia College Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Tanweer Ahmed
    Visiting Faculty, Development Studies, Department of Economics, University of Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

Views: 24 · Downloads: 9

14 Pages : 135-144

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).14      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).14      Published : Dec 2024

The Role of Islam in Shaping Pakistan's Political Identity and Governance

    This study examines the influence of Islam in shaping Pakistan’s political identity and governance, analyzing the ways Islamic principles and values have been integrated into the nation’s constitutional and institutional frameworks. Since its inception, Pakistan has sought to balance Islamic ideology with modern statecraft, creating a unique model of governance that intertwines religious ideals with political structures. This paper investigates the historical foundations of Islam's role in Pakistan’s political development, exploring how Islamic concepts have influenced legal, social, and policy domains. By studying key constitutional amendments, political movements, and policy shifts, this research sheds light on the complex relationship between religion and state governance in Pakistan, highlighting both the achievements and challenges of incorporating Islamic ideals into contemporary political systems.

    Islam, Pakistan, Political Identity, Governance, Constitutional Framework, Islamic Ideology, Statecraft
    (1) Sara Gurchani
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Tazeem Imran
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Uzma Malik
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan.

Views: 47 · Downloads: 9

22 Pages : 241-252

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).22      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).22      Published : Dec 2024

Pakistan's Sustainability Quotient: Exploring the Nexus of Green Technology, Renewable Energy, and Ecological Footprint

    As a developing country, Pakistan is more dependent on conventional, non-friendly energy sources and technology that increases its ecological footprint and causes environmental degradation. The study's primary goal is to analyze the environmental issues by advocating renewable energy usage and green technological innovation in Pakistan. Using data from 1980 to 2021, the results based on the ARDL model confirm an Environment Kuznet Curve hypothesis in the long and short run. Further, the growing green technological innovation positively relates to improved environmental quality in Pakistan. Environmental quality and renewable energy consumption are also positively associated.

    Green Technology, Renewable Energy, Ecological Footprint, Economic Growth, Pakistan
    (1) Kashif Imran
    Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
    (2) Ayesha Liaqat
    MS Scholar, Department of Economics, Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Views: 56 · Downloads: 7

23 Pages : 253-265

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).23      10.31703/gssr.2024(IX-IV).23      Published : Dec 2024

Psychosocial and Cultural Challenges of Social Media Influencers in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study

    Social media influence is a rapidly developing market in which influencers face unique challenges linked to their cultural context. The development of digital platforms in Pakistan has enabled influencers to endorse products and advocate for them. This study investigated the experiences and challenges of social media influencers in Pakistan. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with N= 8 Instagram influencers who each have over 10,000 followers. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyze the collected data. Five superordinate themes emerged, including identity shaping, concerns, growth and resilience, challenges, and coping strategies. The findings indicate that while influencers experience a sense of self-identity construction and financial security, women express greater concern regarding appearance and prospects than their male counterparts do. The findings of this study highlight the need for increased awareness and support for social media influencers, particularly in culturally conservative countries such as Pakistan.

    Social Media Influencers, Pakistan, Cultural Challenges, Identity, Coping Mechanisms, Qualitative Research
    (1) Aqsa Nasarullah
    Alumni, Institute of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Farah Latif Naz
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Bhauddin Zakariya University. Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Iram Gul Gillani
    Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Bhauddin Zakariya University. Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.

Views: 19 · Downloads: 13

01 Pages : 1-15

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).01      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).01      Published : Mar 2025

Terrorism and U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan: Implications of Pakistan’s Post-9/11 Alliance with the United States on its National Security

    Pakistan and the United States have had a history of complex relations since the former's inception. After the 9/11 attacks, changes were observed in the foreign policy of the United States towards Pakistan, followed by a strategic shift in Pakistan’s approach towards its ally in Afghanistan. This study aims to analyze the implications of the post-9/11 Pak-U.S. alliance by examining the impacts of terrorism and U.S. drone strikes on Pakistan’s national security. The theoretical framework focuses on John Mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism. The study employs qualitative research methodology and focuses on secondary data. This research argues that as a result of the post-9/11 Pak-U.S. alliance, the national security of Pakistan was compromised. This study opines that a pragmatic foreign policy combined with a comprehensive national security approach is of paramount importance to Pakistan in order to survive and progress.

    Afghanistan, Alliance, Drone Strikes, FATA, Foreign Policy, Military Campaign, National Security, Pakistan, Suicide Attacks, Terrorism, United States
    (1) Hafiz Sabir Khan
    Graduate, Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

Views: 54 · Downloads: 13

03 Pages : 27-42

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).03      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).03      Published : Mar 2025

Animated Adaptations of Pakistani Literature: A Study of Viewers’ Perceptions and Opinions

    As the most modern and dynamic digital media genre, animation has transformed the storytelling method by blowing new life into static images and text printed in black ink on sheets of paper. This research study attempts to unfold the viewers' perceptions and assessments about the animated adaptations of Pakistani literature that are aired on the YouTube channel Daastaan Saraye created under the NRPU Project. The data has been gathered through a structured questionnaire, and the responses were elicited from a random sample of students and a general population bearing different demographic characteristics, from Peshawar. Using a descriptive analysis method, the results have been drawn from the collected data. The findings demonstrate that most of the respondents liked and preferred to watch the animated videos over reading printed texts and strongly agreed that these animated adaptations can be very helpful in the promotion and preservation of the literature of Pakistan.

    Animation, Pakistani Literature, Daastaan Saraye, Storytelling, YouTube Channel, Young Generation
    (1) Anbarin Fatima
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Shumaila Ashee
    Lecturer, Department of English, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

Views: 16 · Downloads: 7

08 Pages : 85-98

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).08      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).08      Published : Mar 2025

Trust and Mistrust in the Pak-Afghan Relations: An Analysis of Bilateral Relations in the light of Prisoner Dilemma

    The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long been overshadowed by mutual mistrust and strategic rivalry, despite deep cultural ties and Pakistan hosting the world's largest Afghan refugee population. This study applies the Trust Theory and the Prisoner's Dilemma framework to analyze the persistent lack of cooperation between the two states. The research highlights how territorial disputes, cross-border terrorism, geopolitical competition, and external interventions have fueled tensions. While both countries occasionally engage in strategic cooperation under international mediation, their interactions are largely shaped by self-interest, security concerns, and historical grievances. The study argues that economic incentives, diplomatic engagement, and institutional mechanisms could help break this cycle of mistrust. However, deep-rooted historical suspicions and external influences continue to hinder long-term cooperation. Economic interdependence and mutual security assurances are crucial for stabilizing Pak-Afghan relations and fostering regional peace.

    Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations, Prisoner’s Dilemma, Geopolitical Rivalry, Border Security, Economic Cooperation, Diplomatic Engagement
    (1) Muhammad Imran
    Assistant Professor, Department of Media, Creative Arts, and Global Political Studies, Emerson University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Muhammad Ramzan
    Vice Chancellor, Emerson University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Hina Adeeb
    Assistant Professor, Faculty of Media and Mass Communication, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Views: 27 · Downloads: 10

19 Pages : 208-229

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).19      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).19      Published : Mar 2025

Climate Change Education at the Primary School Level in Pakistan: A Comparative Analysis of Curricula and Teaching Practices

    Education about climate change serves as a fundamental requirement for establishing environmental stewardship among primary school students. The investigation compares climate change knowledge between Pakistani public and private primary schools by utilizing UNESCO's climate education framework together with Shulman's Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). The research methodology combined quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze textbooks from the Punjab Textbook Board and Oxford University Press, gather survey data from teachers, and conduct structured interviews followed by statistical assessment. The research shows modest direct climate-related learning appears in both public and private school curricula with private schools achieving better results in teaching methods. The participating sectors demonstrate teaching difficulties because of insufficient training and complex material which strengthens the argument for educational development based on UNESCO principles as well as PCK best practices.

    Climate Change Education, Unesco Framework, Pedagogical Content Knowledge (Pck), Public and Private Schools Pakistan, Curriculum Analysis, Teacher Perceptions
    (1) Saima Habib
    Section Head, Rangers Public School, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Tayyaba Zain
    M. Phil Scholar, Department of STEM Education, University of Education Township, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Views: 57 · Downloads: 13