Wah Academia Journal of Social Sciences

The Role of the state in Environmental Protection: A critical Analysis of Sri Lanka

K. M. V. Ravihari, V. S. Suriyabandara — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the role of the state in Environmental protection I; A critical analysis of Sri Lanka. In the current situation of Sri Lanka, Environmental protection is hotly debate topic among the people. Environmental sustainability is like the core of development country. The research problem is, why has the Sri Lankan state been unable to effectively ensure environmental protection despite having established policies, laws and institutions? In additional sub purposes are, to examine the existing environmental laws. Policies and regulatory framework in Sri Lanka, to analyze the role of state institution in implementing environmental protection policies, to explore the political factors that influence environmental decision making in Sri Lanka, to examine the challenges faced by the state in ensuring environmental sustainability and to assess the impact of economic development priorities on environmental protection. The writing of this article uses qualitative method. Under the qualitative method using literature resources for this. Specially analysis technique based on previous researchers’ findings. Through this study , Political interference often affects environmental decision making and law enforcement, economic development projects are ignore the environmental regulations, clear gap between environmental policies and their practical usage in Sri Lanka and Corruption and lack of accountability weaken environmental government these findings can be identified regarding why has the Sri Lankan state been unable to effectively ensure environmental protection despite having established policies , laws and institutions.

Sustaining Leisure Places Culture and Clients Safety in Southwest, Nigeria

OLATUNDE, Oluwafemi Imisioluwa, Arogundade Abiola Olu — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Leisure places intended for entertainment, recreation, and social interaction appear to be losing core cultural value, while insecurity and violence have turned many into danger zones for clients and visitors. This study examines clients’ reactions to insecurity and safety in some selected leisure venues of South West Nigeria. Anchored in Social Control Theory, the study treats institutional measures as rational and essential for guaranteeing safety in these spaces. Using a mixed-methods design, we collected quantitative and qualitative data from four leisure venues in Ekiti and Ondo States. Thirty respondents and five key informants were randomly selected at each site -120 questionnaires distributed; 20 key informant interviews conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed in SPSS; qualitative interviews were transcribed and reported verbatim to complement the survey findings. Results show that 84.7% of respondents have experienced antisocial behavior, including extortion (90%), theft of valuables (85%), grabbing (88%), threats to life (75%), property insecurity (85%), fear of attack (84%), and panic (86%). These cultural shocks and security challenges may undermine the socio-cultural sustainability of leisure spaces and client safety. The paper therefore recommended that most leisure places relevant operators and stakeholders should provide the necessary man power and modern security facilities needed to guarantee leisure places security for clients’ safety, while clients should also adopt precautionary measures.

Regulatory Challenges and Opportunities for Impact Investing via FinTech in India

Dr. Pooja Gupta — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Impact investing and FinTech are reshaping the financial landscape by channeling capital towards socially and environmentally responsible outcomes while leveraging technology for broader market access and efficiency. In India, innovative FinTech platforms are creating new avenues for impact investors to allocate capital towards sustainable development goals (SDGs), affordable housing, renewable energy, and livelihood enhancement projects. However, the convergence of impact investing and FinTech introduces regulatory complexities that stem from evolving technologies, fragmented policy frameworks, and concerns over investor protection, data security, and systemic stability. This qualitative study explores the regulatory challenges and opportunities that influence the growth of impact investing via FinTech in India. Drawing upon secondary data from academic journals, policy documents, regulatory reports, and industry analyses, the research investigates the existing regulatory environment, identifies friction points that constrain innovation, and highlights areas where regulatory clarity can unlock market potential. The analysis reveals that while regulatory initiatives by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and Ministry of Finance have facilitated FinTech growth, gaps remain in policy coordination, risk management frameworks, and impact measurement standards (Narayanan, 2021; Rao & Krishnamurthy, 2022). The study concludes that a balanced regulatory approach — one that combines oversight with innovation-friendly policies — is essential to support sustainable impact investment growth through FinTech. Clear guidelines on digital asset classification, investor due diligence, and impact reporting can not only boost investor confidence but also promote inclusive financial development. The findings aim to inform policymakers, regulators, and market participants on how to harness regulatory opportunities while addressing key challenges.

Transfer Pricing Strategies for Bamboo Products - A Comparison with Plastic Products

Dr. Aarti Deveshwar, Tamanna — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The increasing environmental concerns related to plastic usage have prompted the exploration of sustainable alternatives. One such alternative is bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource with numerous benefits over plastic. While bamboo has long been used in certain industries (e.g., construction and furniture), its potential as a substitute for plastic in everyday products has only recently gained attention. This paper explores the historical use of plastic, the current shift towards bamboo products, and their potential future in mitigating environmental issues. The literature review identifies gaps in consumer acceptance and technological advancements, while the research methodology incorporates surveys and data analysis to gauge consumer behavior. The findings suggest that bamboo products offer a promising alternative to plastic, though challenges remain in their widespread adoption.

The Impact of Climate-Induced Displacement on Conflict Dynamics in Africa: Comparative Case Studies of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa

Abraham Ename Minko — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research examines the impact of climate-induced displacement on conflict dynamics in Africa, focusing on comparative case studies from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The study identifies that climate-related events exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, leading to heightened tensions over resources, increased migration, and subsequent conflict. Major findings reveal a direct correlation between displacement and the escalation of violence, particularly in regions already facing socio-economic challenges. Grounded in empirical data, the analysis underscores how climate-induced displacement disrupts traditional coping mechanisms and fuels inter-community rivalries. In line with the aspirations of Agenda 2063, the research concludes that addressing climate-induced displacement through integrated policies is essential for promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development across Africa, advocating for comprehensive strategies to enhance resilience and mitigate conflict.

Biafra and Multitude of Secessionist Movements in Nigeria

Oluchukwu Ignatus Onianwa — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The essence of this paper is to interrogate Biafra and secessionist movements in the Nigerian State. It examines reasons for the eruption of secessionist groups and its implications to the survival of the Nigerian State under democratic dispensation. To achieve these objectives, the study adopts case study methodology for data analysis. It relies on both primary sources such as archival materials and newspapers, and secondary sources such as books, journal articles and internet sources for data collection. The study indicates that, Biafra’s secessionist movements has reignited debates on the viability of Nigeria’s statehood or sovereignty giving its persistent encroachment by non-state actors. It argues that, secessionism ought not to have rising in Nigeria if there was equity and fairness in the distribution of national wealth and regular restructuring of the country. Adoption of defiance approach instead of soft or tolerance approach have turned once a peaceful movement into a chaotic gathering metamorphosing into an infringement of fundamental human rights and endangerment of the nation’s democracy and national security. It concludes that, while the government has taken steps to quell the rising secessionist agitations in the country, efforts have not been made to initiate strong dialogue that would ensure that the movement never resurfaced again. Rather, a forceful approach is being adopted to address the menace.
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Beyond Policy Promises: Assessing Legal Rights and Protection for Internally Displaced Women in Niger State, Nigeria

Aisha Dangana, Kamar Hamza, Ahmed Mohammed Letswa, Danjuma Yahuza Izom — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Internal displacement in Nigeria affects over 3.6 million people, with women comprising 55% of this population. Despite Nigeria's ratification of the Kampala Convention and adoption of a National IDP Policy, significant gaps persist between legal protections and lived realities. This phenomenological study examines how internally displaced women (IDW) in Niger State access legal rights and protection mechanisms. Through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 20 displaced women and 2 stakeholders, conducted between July-August 2025, a documentation of systematic rights denial across four dimensions: legal invisibility (near-zero awareness of rights); service exclusion (healthcare, education, shelter inaccessible); institutional abandonment (policy-practice gaps); and political marginalization (exclusion from decision-making and justice). Drawing on human rights theory, feminist legal scholarship, and social contract frameworks, the paper argue that displaced women exist in a condition of "rightlessness” possessing legal entitlements that remain unenforceable due to institutional weakness, patriarchal governance, and state abdication of responsibility. Unlike northeastern Nigeria's insurgency-driven displacement, Niger State's crisis stems from resource-driven banditry linked to illegal mining, creating distinct dynamics requiring context-specific responses. The study contributes original empirical evidence from an under-researched context and demonstrates how multiple axes of marginalization; gender, poverty, displacement status, and ethnicity; compound to produce unique vulnerabilities. Findings underscore the urgent need for gender-responsive legal literacy programs, strengthened state-level enforcement mechanisms, and participatory governance structures including displaced women's voices.

Impact of Technology on Elections in Nigeria: A Case of the 2023 General Elections

Ahmed Babatunde ADEOSUN, Abubakar Hamisu MAI-IYALI — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The 2023 Nigerian General Elections were a turning point in the nation's democratic history because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which oversees elections, implemented innovations like the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to increase credibility and transparency. Although these technologies made the election better in certain ways, they also had problems, which led to discussions about how effective they were. Vote manipulation, ballot box snatching, and result falsification have plagued Nigeria's electoral history, raising widespread doubts about the results of elections. The 2022 Electoral Act required electronic accreditation and result transmission by law in an effort to address these problems. It was proclaimed a game-changer when BVAS was implemented, combining biometric verification (facial recognition and fingerprint) with real-time result uploads. However, as the 2023 elections showed, technological dependability, institutional dedication, and judicial enforcement are necessary for technology to be effective in ensuring electoral integrity. The impact of technology on Nigeria's 2023 elections is examined in this chapter, with particular attention to BVAS and IReV. The following questions are among those it answers: Was the credibility of electoral fraud weakened or did BVAS reduce it? What was the impact of real-time result transmission on public confidence in INEC? What were the obstacles to BVAS and IReV implementation? Which lessons can Nigeria learn for future elections? It is desk research and relies on secondary sources of data.

Security Measures Against Banditry in Niger State, Nigeria: Challenges, Effectiveness, and Economic Implications

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Banditry has become one of the most destabilizing security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in Niger State, where rural communities face recurrent armed attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling, and mass displacement. This seminar paper adopts a mixed method approach, integrating qualitative insights with quantitative analysis of secondary data from 2019 to 2024. Findings reveal a strong negative correlation (r=-0.84) between banditry incidents and agricultural productivity, alongside a 250% increase in reported attacks, a 52% decline in crop yields, and a 177% rise in internally displaced people. Fiscal analysis shows that security expenditure nearly doubled within five years, diverting resources from education, healthcare, and infrastructure, while investment inflows declined by 54%. Drawing on Social Disorganization Theory (Shaw & McKay, 1942), the Economic Theory of Crime (Becker, 1968), and Human Security Theory (UNDP, 1994), the study argues that current measures remain reactive and unsustainable, failing to address structural drivers of insecurity. It concludes that a holistic strategy strengthening intelligence networks, modernizing security forces, enhancing accountability, fostering community engagement, and investing in rural development is essential to mitigate banditry, restore state legitimacy, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic stability.

Application of Mathematical Models in Managerial Decision Making

Dr. Preeti, Dr. Sushil Kumar — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper investigates the application of mathematical models in enhancing managerial decision-making processes across diverse organizational contexts. As the contemporary business environment becomes increasingly volatile and data-intensive, managers are compelled to move beyond intuitive judgment toward structured, evidence-based analytical frameworks. Mathematical models—encompassing linear programming, decision trees, simulation techniques, game theory, and multi-criteria decision analysis—offer systematic tools that improve the quality, speed, and consistency of managerial choices. Through a mixed-methods research design combining systematic literature review and case analysis from manufacturing, healthcare, and financial sectors, this study examines how these models are practically operationalized within real-world decision environments. The findings reveal that organizations adopting mathematical modelling frameworks report measurable improvements in resource allocation efficiency, risk mitigation, and strategic alignment. However, persistent challenges such as data quality deficits, model complexity, and organizational resistance to algorithmic decision support systems continue to limit adoption. The study further highlights that the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with traditional mathematical approaches represents a transformative frontier in managerial analytics. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on operations research and management science by synthesizing recent empirical evidence and offering practical recommendations for practitioners and policymakers seeking to harness the full potential of quantitative decision-making tools.

Measurement of Indoor Radon Concentrations and Health Hazard Exposure to Occupants of Buildings at Ijebu-Imushin Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

O. Sowole, M. S. Bamigbe — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Lung cancer has been linked to exposure to the naturally occurring ionizing radiation from radon gas (22Rn). Radon is ubiquitous in our environment. However, the level of Concentration of this gas is influenced by the geological, geographical and meteorological conditions of a particular environment. The indoor radon concentration is also influenced by factors such as Air-conditioning system, ventilation and age of building. In this study, the level of indoor radon concentrations was measured using radon detector Rn-35 model, in 30 different buildings for both bricks buildings and cement buildings located within Ijebu-Imushin situated at Ijebu- East, Ogun State, Nigeria. Buildings were chosen to vary between those bricks buildings and cement buildings. The results of the measurements showed that the indoor radon concentrations for all the buildings varied between0.48 to 1.68pCiL-1. These values were found to be lower than the recommended limit by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The annual dose rate for the occupants of buildings ranged from 0.005mSy -1 to 0.123mSy -1which were below the recommended ICRP international limit. Hence, there was no reasonable risk of adverse health effect and lung cancer induction to the occupants of the buildings at Ijebu- Imushin.

Enhancing Academic Achievements of Slow Learners through AI: A study based on Junior Secondary schools in the Kalkudah Zone

Abilash.K, Mahthi Hassan.N — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the impact of AI-powered learning systems on enhancing the academic achievement of slow learners within the 21st century educational landscape of inclusive education. It seeks to determine how AI technologies can identify specific student challenges, reduce learning gaps and provide customized learning experiences. The ultimate goal is to build up self-confidence, increase student engagement, and improve overall learning efficiency in the classroom. A significant challenge is the digital divide, particularly the lack of technical facilities and internet access in rural and underdeveloped areas. To address this, a mixed-methods approach was used, involving 120 students, 90 teachers, 5 principals, 5 ADS/ISAs and 30 parents from all five schools in the Kalkudah zone. Data collection methods included questionnaires, interviews, observations, and document analysis, performed using SPSS version 29.0. The Findings indicate that AI-based interventions can significantly enhance student achievement by creating customized learning paths and adapting the curriculum to individual learning speeds. AI has transformed the roles of teachers, the tools they use, and the content they deliver. The research also revealed that AI tools can empower teachers to provide immediate and necessary assistance. The study recommends creating localized, interactive AI learning resources, offering comprehensive professional training for teachers, improving the distribution of technical facilities and fostering collaboration with policymakers. By implementing these recommendations, the country can better achieve its future educational goals and adapt to timely technological changes. This study also emphasizes the important of conducting research not only on future technological developments but also on the rapid change occurring in technology today.

The Warrior Kamboj Queens in Ancient India: Martial Leadership and Historical Legacy

Dr. Ramjilal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Kambojas stand out prominently in ancient Indian history as a formidable tribe and a significant Mahajanapada. From the Rigvedic period to Southeast Cambodia, Kamboja women played an essential role in administration and combat. The Rigveda categorically describes the Kambojas as a warrior-loving people unafraid of challenge. In the context of Vedic society, women possessed the right to engage in assembly and warfare, marking a progressive stance for their time. Kamboja women were not only skilled but also highly trained in horsemanship, archery, and martial arts. Vedic hymns vividly illustrate women fighting side by side with men on horseback, asserting their equal role in battle. In comparison to other contemporary republics, Kamboja women enjoyed a far greater engagement in public and military domains. When their husbands fell in battle, Kamboja queens decisively took command of the army, leading their warriors into combat. Located near Gandhara, the Kamboja region valued women’s education and independence, establishing a clear model of empowerment. The tradition of women in public and military roles within the Kamboja Mahajanapada significantly influenced queens from various dynasties in later periods, promoting the concept of women warriors rather than accepting subjugation.

Imagining Postcolonial Society in Nadeem Aslam’s Season of the Rainbirds

Mubashar Altaf, Dr. Huma Batool — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines Nadeem Aslam’s Season of the Rainbirds through the lens of conceptual metaphor theory and decolonial thought to explore how postcolonial Pakistani society is imagined as a diseased body, a decaying house, and a fractured vessel. Drawing on Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory, alongside Walter Mignolo’s reflections on power and coloniality, the study argues that Aslam’s novel deploys embodied and architectural metaphors to critique political stagnation, moral decay, and epistemic violence in the aftermath of the Independence. Set during General Zia-ul-Haq’s military dictatorship, the narrative foregrounds the suppression of memory and the manipulation of faith as instruments of state power. Images of infestation, structural fissures, flooding, and bodily illness metaphorically map the erosion of social institutions, the circulation of fear, and the reproduction of colonial binaries under authoritarian rule. The recurring motif of the “little green books” further symbolises the emptiness of ideology and its failure to repair the structural damage inflicted on society. By reading these metaphors as culturally and historically situated, the paper contends that Aslam’s metaphoric practice functions as a form of cognitive and epistemic resistance, exposing how the colonial matrix of power continues to shape postcolonial governance and knowledge production. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that Season of the Rainbirds reimagines the postcolonial nation not as a coherent body politic, but as a fractured space where suppressed histories resurface and alternative possibilities of memory and meaning emerge.

The Concept of Idealized Masculinity in Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey

Ihsan Ullah, Salvia Islam, Amna Zahid — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study aims at investigating Rupi Kaur’s idealization of masculinity in her book “Milk and Honey”. The study further envisages Kaur’s usage of patterns for achieving a certain brand of masculinity and her aversion to the rest of them. Rupi Kaur is an Indian born Canadian poet and is the author of poetry books “Milk and Honey” 2014 and “the sun and her flowers” 2017. She is a feminist writer who deplores patriarchy and writes about abuse, trauma and maltreatment of women. She speaks for women empowerment and writes against misogynism. She becomes so emphatic in her stance of idealized masculinity at times that she ignores masculinities in general and starts portraying her ideal brand of it. She has her own versions of fathers, lovers, uncles and doctors. In the course of her book she keeps on piling qualities that men may have in them in order to be ideal and thus acceptable. Those qualities often serve as preconditions for Kaur’s ideal masculinity. Her language becomes so appealing while portraying her ideal masculinity that a sense of persuasion becomes prevalent. The study is qualitative in nature and is carried out through content based analysis with deductive and inductive integration.

Vibrant Refuse, Spectral Returns: Material Agency and Haunting in Krishan Chander’s “Kachra Baba”

Aneeza Batool — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper aims at exploring the binary between human and matter. The purpose is to unpack the agency of nonliving matter especially the plastic waste. While anthropocentric world-view projects waste as a discard and thus unnecessary commodity to be taken rid of, the research will show how the plastic is a vibrant matter (a term used by Jane Bennett) that has a unique agency to change the fate of humans thus subverting the boundaries of human vs. non-human. To support this argument, a critical analysis of Krishan Chander’s “Kachra Baba” is done through the critical insights of “material ecocriticism” (the work of Serpil Oppermann and Serenella Iovino on "storied matter"), “vibrant materiality” by Jane Bennett, “trans-corporeality” by Stacy Alaimo, the theory of haunting and the concept of “ghostly matters” by Avery Gordon. This integrated approach will foreground how “Kachra Baba” challenges the anthropocentric narratives of power and agency and foregrounds the generative and disruptive vitality of waste within the complex surroundings of Postcolonial ecologies. The research will add to the discourses of nonhuman subject matters, showcasing how they possess agency in their own way and in turn shape human identities in the context of environmental and social inequalities.

Appraisal Analysis of Verbal Discourse of Educationists Regarding Honour Killing

Maria Khan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Honour killing is probably one of the most significant socio-cultural issues in Pakistan, which is based on patriarchal attitudes and cultural concept of family honour. Extensive research is already available on cultural, legal, and social aspects of honour killing. However, limited research is available on how conceptions regarding honour killing are reproduced or challenged within the education sector. Thereby using appraisal theory and appraisal model current study aims to explore the conceptions regarding honour killing in the verbal discourse of educationists in Pakistan. The findings of the study show that the use of emotive vocabulary is common to show sympathy to the victims, condemnation of violence, and a conflict between cultural sensitivity and moral outrage. Judgmental vocabulary is mostly employed to morally judge perpetrators, households and cultural patterns, some educationists label honour killing a cowardly, unjustified or inhuman act, and a few replicates culturally engrained concepts of honour and decency. Regarding the aspect of “Graduation”, participants sharpen their judgments by using lexical choices of high force (e.g., “extremely brutal, deeply rooted), which is creating the sense of further seriousness of the problem and foregrounding the urgency of the situation; softening tactics are in effect at other moments when speakers are afraid to openly go against the common cultural values. The study concludes that the discourse of educationists is both an expression of opposition to honour-based violence and a trace of transformative conceptions.

Beyond the things: Stylistic Insights into Rafat’s 'Kitchens'

Abdul Qadeer, Farzana Masroor, Haseeb Sattar — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study has examined the poem “Kitchens” by Taufiq Rafat from his collection “Arrival of the monsoon” in order to analyze the linguistics resources used by poet to explore the theme of nostalgia manifested in his symbolic usage of ‘things’. The Poem had been examined from different theoretical and methodological perspectives; however, it still required an in-depth linguistic examination which this paper aims to provide. For said reasons, study has used stylistics analysis since a through and in-depth analysis helps in uncovering the hidden meanings at the same time bringing about appreciations for the author's creativity and style. Therefore, for such an informed analysis, the poem was analyzed in terms of level model of language i.e. from Phonological, Graphological, Morphological, Semantics and obviously syntactic perspective. The close reading method has been used with things theory given by Bill Brown to carry out an informed stylistics analysis of the poem. The detailed stylistic examination of the poem Kitchens noted that Rafat has utilized linguistics resources and symbolic significance in order state the dominant theme of nostalgia. Such a theme is highlighted via juxtaposition of old and modern life or village and city life with the help of things that are/were present in kitchens. Therefore, the use of things theory further enhanced the claims build around subsisting ideas that Rafat conveys. This research highlights the importance of Rafat as a poet representing indigenous culture thereby longing for it. Apart from it, study adds to available literature and critical scholarship in the field of Pakistani literature. Moreover, it is suggested for future research to carry a corpus-oriented in-depth stylistics analysis of Rafat’s collection in order to discover his poetic ingenuity.

The Double-Edged Digital Platform: Impact of Social Media on the Academic Performance of Media Students in Karachi

Muskan Riaz, Dr. Taha Shabbir, Dr Humera Yaseen, Samina Abbasi — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of social media usage on the academic performance of media students in Karachi, with particular focus on three dependent variables: creative intelligence, worldview development, and technological efficiency. As social media has become a constitutive feature of contemporary student life functioning simultaneously as an entertainment platform, professional portfolio space, and educational resource its effects on academic outcomes remain contested and context-dependent. Grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory (Lazarsfeld & Stanton, 1944) and Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), this research employed a quantitative design, gathering primary data from 300 undergraduate and postgraduate media students across public and private universities in Karachi through a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were analysed using Chi-Square statistical tests in SPSS. Results revealed statistically significant associations between social media usage and all three dependent variables: creative intelligence, worldview development, and technological efficiency. More active social media users demonstrated higher levels of creative thinking, broader global perspectives, and greater confidence in digital tools. However, the study simultaneously documented significant negative consequences including distraction from coursework (reported by 52% of respondents), time-management failures (58.7%), missed academic deadlines (53%), and mental fatigue following heavy use (58.3%). The findings argue that social media is a fundamentally ambivalent academic tool whose effects are contingent upon intentionality, self-regulation, and digital literacy rather than upon usage volume per se. The paper concludes with evidence-based recommendations for educators, institutions, and students seeking to optimise social media's academic potential while mitigating its well-documented harms.

Gendered Expressions in Students’ Desk Graffiti: A Linguistic Analysis

Tazeem Ijaz — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Graffiti is the individual and open communication that enables students to express both linguistically and visually emotions, identities, and social experiences. Although most commonly perceived as vandalism or a disciplinary issue, recent academic literature regards graffiti as an important location of student identity, resistance, and self-expression. This paper explores the gendered linguistic representations of classroom desk graffiti done by male students and female students in segregated and colleges and universities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Using the theory of Genderlect proposed by Deborah Tanner and the research conducted by Janet Holmes about the linguistic and gender determinants of speech, the research is based on the idea that gender affects communicative style and language preferences. Applying a combined analytical approach between Fairclough, van Dijk and Kress and van Leeuwen, the research paper determines the main linguistic characteristics that include adjectives, metaphors, choice of pronouns, symbolic processes, salience, polarization and memory forms. The results indicate gender-specific trends that are influenced by socialization, educational background, and school atmosphere and that graffiti is an important tool in the process of students negotiating identity, relationships, and emotionality.

AI-driven Spelling Aid: Filling Spelling Gaps and Cognitive Load among Pakistani ESL Learners

Smavia Sajjad, Laraib Hussain, Sana Ali, Kaukab Saba — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

With the growing involvement of AI in language learning, understanding spelling variation among students, especially the ESL learners, becomes crucial. The main goal of this research is that AI tools (ChatGPT and Grammarly) act as a helping tool for reducing spelling variations, overcoming difficulties between both English varieties, and also lessening the Cognitive load of Pakistani ESL learners by giving quick feedback. A mixed-method approach is conducted in this research. The Cognitive Load Theory is applied in this research, which states that our working memory can only hold little information at a time and we must avoid overloading it and therefore maximize learning (Sweller, 1988). The study's findings underscore that AI-based tools have a significant impact on ESL learners’ ability to recognize and apply correct spellings across variations of British and American English. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrate that Pakistani ESL learners have a positive attitude towards AI tools that overcome spelling errors and cognitive load. Despite growing research on AI in language learning, less emphasis has been given to its significance in addressing spelling errors across English variations. The significance of this research paper highlights how AI assists ESL learners in managing language variation without creating dependency.

Metaphor and Figurative Language in Moral Instruction: A Conceptual Metaphor Analysis of Religious Sermons

Dr. Muhammad Ahmad, Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq, Dr. Ahsan Ul Haq — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the use of metaphor and figurative language as instruments of moral instruction in religious sermons. For this purpose, this study utilizes the texts of khutab authored by Sheikh Mohamed Ewas that are analyzed by employing conceptual metaphor theory, and critical metaphor analysis to identify, categorize, and interpret the dominant cross-domain conceptualization through which Islamic moral concepts are constructed and communicated to the Muslim audience. The analysis reveals five recurrent conceptual metaphors: (1) the community is a body, (2) sin is a physical substance or mark, (3) moral corruption is disease, (4) virtuous deeds are currency, and (5) the spiritual journey is a path. These source-domain structures serve interrelated rhetorical functions (i.e., physical representation of abstract doctrine, emotional mobilization, and identity construction. Thus, this study contributes to the growing literature on religious discourse analysis and argues that metaphor in the khutbah is not a stylistic device but constitutes a primary cognitive mechanism through which Islamic moral theology is made practical to the lay person in linguistically and culturally hybrid contexts.

Solastlgia and Ecological Grief in Emmi Itäranta's The Memory of Water: An Ecostylistic Analysis

Syeda Okasha Mahmood — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change and environmental degradation have come to be more and more a theme in modern literature, especially what has come to be known as “climate fiction”, which depicts the emotional and psychological effects of environmental catastrophe. The study will focus on aspects of language and style in the novel as they show emotional reactions to environmental destruction and to trauma caused by climate change. This study uses the qualitative research method and a text analysis approach as the main tool for the study. Using the theoretical framework of ecostylistics, imagery, symbolism, diction and tone are analyzed in the novel. The emotions of the characters, their displacement and ecological anxiety in the context of the water scarcity and environmental instability are discussed in the context of the concepts of solastalgia and ecological grief. The results show that in the novel, dystopian features and ecostyle serve to effectively depict the ecological grief and solastalgia. Images of water symbolize memory, survival and ecological interconnectedness, and depictions of landscape and water scarcity are associated with environmental degradation. Moreover, the melancholic language and tone help convey the emotional stress and psychological anguish resulting from climate change. The overall conclusion of the study is that The Memory of Water is an effective fusion of ecology, style and emotion and a meaningful piece of climate fiction. The research also shows that ecostylistics is a good approach to analyzing the emotion of the environment and environmental representation in literary works.

Psychological Trauma, Speech, and Identity: A Critical Discourse Analysis study

Bisma Mirza, Alvina Wasim — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study looks at how psychological traumas shape identity formation, through speech impairment. The people who suffer these traumas undergo numerous challenges int their lives. This research navigates the movie The King's Speech, to critically analyze the role of the traumas in the identity formation and the situation of the person, through specific dialogue and scenes from the movie using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), as proposed by the model proposed by Teun A. van Dijk as methodology. The theoretical framework is based on Carl Jung's psychoanalytic theory, especially the constructions of ego, shadow, persona, and self that are used to interpret the protagonist's discourse. To investigate how linguistic expressions reveal internal psychological conflict, identity struggles, and emotional repression, dialogues are categorized using these Jungian constructs. The analysis shows that stammering is more than just a speech disorder; it is closely linked to internalized insecurity, social pressure, and childhood trauma. The movie also emphasizes the tremendous pressure of royal duty, where a king must possess public authority, self-assurance, and perfect speech. The protagonist's psychological suffering and sense of failure are worsened by this expectation, which breeds a deep fear of criticism and public scrutiny. The results also highlight how society contributes to the stigma associated with speech disorders because people who stammer are frequently made fun of or excluded, which further undermines their confidence and sense of self. The study also shows that social stigma and fear of public opinion often cause psychological issues to be disregarded or denied. The study concludes that speech in the movie functions as a crucial location where social expectations, institutional power, psychological trauma, and personal identity converge, illuminating the complex connection between language, the psyche, and social structures.

Communication is the key to Connection: Post-Structuralist analysis of Anton Chekov’s The Man Who Lived in a Shell

Turs Mohi Ud Din, Muhammad Hamzah Masood, Wardah Ahmad — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Communication enables people to express themselves and the hidden expressions are strong enough to communicate through the layers of meanings within the text. Similarly, these textual layers or hidden meanings gives insight of the text and enables the reader to understand the complexities from the narrator’s point of view. Post-structuralism basically clears those ideas and layers of meanings with the cultural, social, autobiographical etc. elements so that the reader can grasp the whole. As Derrida proposed to the poststructuralism theory that “Meaning lies within the text”. Hence, the Researcher has tried to analyse A Man Who Lived in A Shell by Anton Chekov. The strong elements of restrictiveness in the communication are strappingly present in the story which are brought to the surface by the application of this theory. The Researcher has reached the point that Belikov was a victim of perplexing thoughts and was unable to communicate himself to the fullest to the people he cared for.

Voices Unheard: Exploring the Challenges & Frustrations of Males in Post-Flood Reconstruction Efforts in Pishin

Muhammad Abdur Rehman, Syed Hasanat Ur Rehman, Sadaf Awan, Hasnain Raza — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The focus of most disaster writings is on the helplessness of the women and the children, the position of men in patriarchal societies such as Pakistan have not been addressed adequately. The paper reviews the male victims of the 2022 Pishin floods in Balochistan process of recovery following the floods and highlights the loss of economic resources and livelihood, mental health issues and the lack of care and compassion by the institutions. A qualitative methodology was used to collect two sets of data that comprised of in-depth interview of seven, purposely selected, male participants (farmers, shopkeepers, and professionals), on-the-field observations conducted in flood-affected villages, and institutional responses analyzed through application of thematic analysis. The outcomes include severe economic depression in which the income is largely used to pay off debts leading to poverty in the subsequent generation and child labor and high degree of psychological distress, including untreated PTSD and social isolation which are encouraged by cultural perceptions of masculinity and the seeking of help. Institutional failures were in the form of corrupted distribution of aid, accumulation of debts approximately of PKR 1.8 million, recovery policies that failed to consider the specific needs of men, and coping strategies that were founded primarily on religious orientations. This study indicates the significance of gender sensitive disaster recovery planning in response to the vulnerability of men including being transparent in their help programs, community based mental health programs and non-discriminatory economic rehabilitation programs.

From Romanticism to Modernity: The Continuing Impact of Romantic Poetic Themes

Uzma Kanwal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the major themes and literary characteristics of the Romantic Period, particularly focusing on the works of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Emerging during the Age of Revolution, Romanticism developed as a reaction against the social, political, and industrial changes brought by the French and American Revolutions. Romantic poets emphasized imagination, emotion, nature, beauty, and individual expression in their poetry. The study examines the contribution of Wordsworth and Coleridge through their collaborative work Lyrical Ballads and analyzes important poems such as “Tintern Abbey,” “Kubla Khan,” and “Frost at Midnight.” Furthermore, it highlights the relevance of Romantic themes in the modern world, particularly the connection between nature and human spirituality. The research also discusses the role of imagination, symbolism, and supernatural elements in Romantic poetry and demonstrates how Romantic literature continues to influence contemporary thought and literary studies.

Reproductive Autonomy Across Legal Systems: Comparing Pakistan and the United States

Hobashia Saleem, Aqsa Urooj, Laraib Ghulam Mohammad, Nauman Hassan Lodhi — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Reproductive autonomy, which refers to the right to make independent, informed, and free choices about reproductive life, is a contentious issue in legal discourse, raising significant questions about constitutional structure, legal interpretation, and gender equality. Most people agree that reproductive rights are essential, yet local legislation translates them inconsistently. Different constitutional and cultural traditions, sociocultural norms, political viewpoints, and institutional resources affect reproductive rights in municipal law. The paper compares Pakistan and the US's constitutional and rights-based analyses of reproductive autonomy, taking into account their drastically different legal structures, developmental settings, and rights recognition experiences. Though neglected in contemporary studies, this comparative lens is important in understanding how legal regimes define, regulate, and preserve reproductive autonomy. To determine how judicial systems, support or hinder reproductive decision-making, the study examines law provisions, major court judgments, international human rights obligations, and real health records. Pakistan's constitution partially protects reproductive rights under sections 9, 14, and 25. They also face gender inequity, massive health care disparities, and abortion legal ambiguity. Since the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the US Constitution has changed, creating a patchwork of uneven abortion regulation powers and deep racial and socioeconomic inequalities. Both have different development and legal systems, but both exhibit a gap between the law and women's lives, especially poor, rural, young, and culturally excluded women. The paper claims that both nations' legislative safeguards are ineffective without changes in structures, organizations, and social norms. The most rational and consistent approach to reproductive choice-making is a rights-based regulation based on reproductive justice theory, which views reproductive autonomy as a positive right necessitating state involvement in healthcare, education, and economic independence.

Hesitation Pauses at Clause Boundaries in Pakistani English and Urdu: A Cross-Linguistic Study with Speaker Reflections

Dr Kamran Ali, Shahzeb Shafi, Muhammad Hamzah Masood — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the distribution of hesitation pauses at clause boundaries in spontaneous Pakistani English and Urdu speech, examined from psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic perspectives. Original speech data were collected from 10 Pakistani English and 10 Urdu adult speakers, yielding approximately 110 minutes of spontaneous narration. Six participants additionally completed structured speaker-reflection interviews to examine their metalinguistic awareness of hesitation behaviour. Each hesitation pause token was coded as either Clause Boundary (CB) or Clause Internal (CI), and the positional distribution was tested against chance expectation using chi-square analysis. Results showed that 71% of hesitation pauses in Pakistani English and 64% in Urdu occurred at clause boundaries, replicating and extending Hawkins' (1971) clause-boundary hypothesis in a cross-linguistic South Asian context for the first time. . Findings are interpreted within Levelt's (1983, 1993) Incremental Sentence Planning Theory and grounded in neurolinguistic evidence — including ERP and neuroimaging studies of syntactic planning — for elevated processing load at clause boundaries.

Exploring Subjectivity in the Short Stories Written by Male and Female Authors in Intermediate Level Books of Pakistan

Nimra Gull Naz, Atif Hayat, Dr Eram Jamil — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of the features of literature is subjectivity as the authors share the thoughts, emotions, and opinions about the literature in themselves using the short stories. Much research has already been conducted on the linguistic trend and style in the short stories taught in Pakistan. Nevertheless, little literature exists on the topic of subjectivity of writing by male and female authors. Thus, with Alan McKee textual analysis as a concept in the umbrella of Theory of Subjectivity by Emile Benveniste, the current study aimed at discussing the subjectivity in the short stories by male and female writers. It was found out that the two authors, male and female, employ diverse linguistic strategies to present their vision of the world and the extent of their emotionality and social awareness.

Hidden Costs of Online Exclusion: Social Alienation as a Mediator Between Cyber Ostracism and Mental Well-being Among University Students

Ayesha Baksh, Ruqia Safdar Bajwa — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cyber ostracism is an emerging form of online social exclusion that may undermine students’ psychological functioning, yet the mechanisms explaining this association remain insufficiently understood. The present study examined whether social alienation mediates the relationship between cyber ostracism and mental well-being among university students. A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Data were collected from 213 university students aged 18 to 30 years using validated self-report measures of cyber ostracism, social alienation, and mental well-being. Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation analyses were conducted. The results showed that cyber ostracism was positively associated with social alienation and negatively associated with mental well-being. Social alienation was strongly and negatively associated with mental well-being. Hierarchical regression indicated that cyber ostracism significantly predicted mental well-being after controlling for age, gender, and daily social media use; however, this effect became non-significant after social alienation was entered into the model. Mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 4 further confirmed a significant indirect effect of cyber ostracism on mental well-being through social alienation. These findings suggest that cyber ostracism may be linked to poorer mental well-being primarily because it increases students’ sense of social alienation. The study extends cyber-ostracism literature by identifying social alienation as a key psychological pathway connecting online exclusion with positive mental health. The findings highlight the need for university student-support services to recognize subtle forms of online exclusion and promote belonging, inclusion, and social connectedness.

Common Incivilities Experienced by Hostel Students at Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan

Sidra Mushtaq, Uzma Munawar, Muhammad Kamran — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study explored the relationship between incivility in the hostel environment, psychological well-being and academic achievement among students living in hostels. A correlational research design was used. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect data with a population of 160 students living in university hostel and private hostels. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data. Students often reported problems with food quality, hygiene, uncleanliness, breaches of personal boundaries, internal differences between residents and problems with personal security. The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between incivility in the home environment and academic performance. Psychological problems e.g., stress, anxiety, loneliness and social isolation were also linked to residential incivility. Students reporting greater levels of residential incivility had lower levels of academic success and well-being. The research indicates that the negative effects of an inappropriate residential environment and behavior of the student on the student's psyche and academic achievement can be detected. The results focus on improving the management of the hostel, improving residential facilities, effective student support services and promotion of good residential conduct. These measures can help to build a supportive learning environment and enhance student outcomes in Higher Education institution.

Appraisal Analysis of Acknowledgment Section of Doctoral Theses

Savera Naheed — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gratitude and acknowledgement are social customs deeply ingrained in all cultures and traditions throughout the globe representing socio cultural consciousness and civic framework of society. A lack of acknowledgement in regular social life can result in various psychological and professional problems. While massive research is already available on diverse components of academic writing together with introductions, literature reviews and methodologies, confined research has focused especially on the acknowledgement sections of theses. Thereby, using appraisal theory and appraisal model, the contemporary study aims to analyze and compare the linguistic patterns in the acknowledgement sections of doctoral theses of English linguistics and literature from Pakistan, India and United Kingdom. The findings revealed that Pakistani and Indian doctoral acknowledgments employ emotionally intensified affect, moral judgment through frequent first-person and collective pronoun use (e.g., “I am deeply thankful,” “we are indebted”), spiritually and relationally oriented appraisal vocabulary referencing God, supervisors, institutions and family, emotionally sequenced coherence and complex sentence structure, whereas British acknowledgments favor restrained appreciation realized through formulaic expressions such as “I would like to thank” or “I am grateful to”, limited pronoun repetition , professionally focused, linear coherence and syntactically concise constructions within the appraisal framework.

Climate Change–Driven Alterations in PM2.5 and PM10 Levels: Source Apportionment, Atmospheric Transformations, and Public Health Implications

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is one of the most significant threats to the environment and human health across the globe with climate change increasingly changing the sources, atmospheric transformations and the public health impacts of PM. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the complex interactions between climate change and particulate matter dynamics including effects of increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, changing wind systems and extreme weather events on PM concentrations and composition. Climate change is causing shifts in both anthropogenic and natural emission sources. Wildfires, dust storms and biogenic emissions are increasing in many regions. Changes in atmospheric conditions (secondary organic aerosol formation, sulphate and nitrate chemistry, photochemical reactions) significantly impact atmospheric transformations of PM in a changing climatic environment. Receptor models, isotopic techniques and applications of artificial intelligence are important tools to characterize climate-modified PM profiles in source apportionment approaches. The public health implications are huge, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disorders, neurological effects, cancer risks and maternal-child health outcomes, with vulnerable populations facing disproportionate exposure risks. Emerging new monitoring technologies include satellite-based systems and AI-driven forecasting models providing new opportunities for exposure assessment and early warning systems. This review identifies critical research gaps and proposes integrated mitigation strategies that combine climate change and air quality management for safeguarding human health in a rapidly changing world.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Naming Practices in Sindh, Pakistan

Mansoor Ali, Wafa Mansoor Buriro, Arshia Aslam, Dr. Habibullah Pathan — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Naming babies is a socially meaningful expression of family identity, belief, memory, and cultural values. This study explores reasons that motivate naming practices in Sindh, Pakistan. Parents were approached through their children to explain the motivation of their naming choices and why they chose the names they did. This research adapts a qualitative research design. Open-ended online questionnaires were randomly for data collection from 520 participants from all over Sindh, data were analyzed using critical discourse analysis framework. The data are discussed and interpreted through a lens of conceptual framework consisting of number of theories depending on the categories and themes of reasons behind naming practices. Results show that naming practices in Sindh are influenced by different factors including memory of ancestors, religion, family customs, cultural and ethnic identity, emotional bonds, personal preference, astrology, admiration for famous personalities, literary influence, and contemporary naming trends. Earlier research has found some of the factors similar to this study. Names function as personal identifiers and as carriers of cultural memory and social significance. The Research finds both traditional and modern values. It coexists with modern and global influences, resulting in hybrid and negotiated naming practices . Current study offers a thorough context-sensitive description of naming practice in Sindh, explaining how common naming choices reflect broader and historical processes.