Vol. 5 No. 5 (2026): Issue 5 (May Issue)

Discipline: Social Sciences (Miscellaneous)

Published: 2026-05-30

Articles

Full Open Access
The Role of Institutional Quality in Shaping Environmental Performance

Muhammad Adnan Parwar, Dr. Muhammad Naeem

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.261
This study explores the influence of country-level governance on firms’ environmental performance and examines the moderating role of foreign ownership using balanced panel data analysis of 198 non-financial Pakistani firms over the period 2016-2023. This present study employed a random effects regression model to estimate the direct and interaction effects, with the Hausman test to confirm the suitability of the selected estimator. However, the empirical findings suggest that country-level governance has a statistically significant and positive effect on environmental performance, signifying that at the firm level, country-level factors improve and contribute to stronger environmental outcomes at the firm level. In contrast, foreign ownership exhibits a negative but statistically insignificant direct effect and does not significantly moderate the association between country-level governance and environmental performance. Furthermore, the results of control variables like market capitalization, firm size, and revenue growth are found to be insignificant. These findings indicate that in the Pakistani context, country-level governance indicators promote environmental performance more than foreign ownership structure. Although the explanatory power of the estimated models is modest, with R² values of 0.024, 0.025, and 0.038, indicating limited but meaningful variance explanation. Overall, the results of this study underscore and contribute to the growing literature by providing empirical evidence from an emerging economy and shedding light on the vital role of country-level governance in driving environmental performance, while highlighting the limited role of foreign ownership alone may be insufficient. These findings also offer implications for corporate stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators seeking to strengthen governance and environmental performance towards ESG-related practices.
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1-13
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Beyond the Numbers: A Qualitative Exploration of Female University Students' Experiences with Generative AI in Personalized Learning at a Pakistani University

Muhammad Sikandar Ali, Rimsha Arshad, Fatima Akram

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.264
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an important part of academic practice in everyday academic life; however, there is a lack of understanding about how female students in the higher education system in Pakistan interact with it. The context in which the use of AI in learning occurs is marked by English-medium teaching, collectivist academic culture, and gender differences in terms of technology adoption. This qualitative descriptive study is an attempt to fill this research gap based on semi-structured interviews with twelve female students: nine studying at the Department of Education and three at the Department of Computer Science at a women only public university in Lahore. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation of the data was reached and they were analyzed using the six-phase reflexive thematic analysis described by Braun and Clarke (2006) within the framework of the Extended Mind Thesis (Clark & Chalmers, 1998). Four themes emerged in response to the research questions that guided this study: Generative AI as a Tool of Scaffolding Personalized Learning, Effectiveness and Ambivalence Towards Generative AI at the Institutional Level, AI as a Psychological and Academic Enabler, and The Over-Reliance Paradox. Instead of naive and uncritical users, the data presents the participants negotiating their dependence on AI and in some ways being more aware of this fact than their institution. The paper provides a context-specific contribution to the literature which is mainly dominated by survey-based studies that do not consider gender differences.
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14-31
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Factors Influencing the Investment Intentions of Millennials in an Emerging Economy: The Impact of Financial Advertising Using PLS-SEM Evidence from Pakistan

Kehkashan Hasan, Dr. Muhammad Muzammil

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.265
There are a number of challenges and risks in the financial sector of Pakistan as it is an inherently risky and volatile industry, especially for new investors to make financial decisions. Access to information is a key factor in dealing with these challenges. This study explores the relationship between financial advertisements and investors' behavioural intentions, mediated by perceived risk. This study helps to validate the conceptual model based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, and discuss the relationships between the financial advertisement antecedents (information quality, involvement, credibility and truthfulness) and perceived risk and investors' investment intentions. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), data were collected from 307 respondents and analyzed. The study verifies that there are significant relationships between the information quality and truthfulness of financial advertisements and perceived risk. Credibility, and truthfulness, is also determined to be highly correlated with investor intentions. The findings show that five of the nine hypotheses are accepted, and that information quality and information truths negatively affect perceived risk, and information quality, credibility and information truths have a positive effect on intention to invest. This research helps advance the knowledge of the decision-making process of millennial investors in the presence of varying financial promotions and advertisements. The results are useful to policy makers for the development of financial advertising policies or for identifying those disclosures that are especially crucial.
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32-43
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Sustainable Consumption Behavior among Educated Generation Z: The Roles of Environmental Awareness and Perceived Financial Literacy

Zubair Arshad, Nimra Jamil, Gulzar Mehar Ali, Hamouda Khan, Kherzada Khushal Khan

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.266
It is generally recognized that sustainable consumption is crucial to sustainable economic and environmental health. However, amongst youth consumers there still is a familiar problem: They know about environmental issues but do not necessarily use this information to buy or use products responsibly. The present study focuses on the potential for environmental awareness and perceived financial literacy to successfully predict the sustainable consumption behaviors of a particular group of university students within the larger set of educated Gen Z. A cross-sectional design was employed in the survey of 300 undergraduate students from Pakistani universities. By observing our results, we realize that both factors have impacts on sustainable behavior, and the impact of environmental awareness is more noticeable (β = 0.563) than the impact of perceived financial literacy (β = 0.327). Together, the two predictors explain a large amount of the variance (R2 = .551). This indicates that when it comes to motivation to buy ecologically, knowledge about ecology and sustainability is often the main factor, while perceived financial awareness is not necessarily a determining factor, but rather can facilitate and enable it.
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44-61
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Emotional Regulation in Pakistani Women

Sanober Naqvi, Dr. Anila Amber Malik

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.272
A relatively large number of women suffer from mental disorders globally and such disorders tend to disturb their emotional control in stressful situations. There are socio-cultural problems faced by Pakistani women like gender bias, victimization and low autonomy which make it harder for them to emotionally control themselves. The current study is concerned with emotional regulation mechanisms of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression in married and unmarried Pakistani women. The Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was administered to 220 participants aged between 19-50 years. It was hypothesized that (1) married women would score higher on the mechanism of cognitive reappraisal than unmarried women; and (2) married women would score higher on expressive suppression than unmarried women. The independent samples t-tests revealed that married women scored significantly higher on cognitive reappraisal as compared to unmarried women and hence, the first hypothesis is supported while there were no significant differences on expressive suppression for both groups. The findings highlight the vital importance of the mechanism of reappraisal based on cognitive control in emotional regulation among married women and its future significance in developing coping processes and enhancing well-being.
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62-71
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Marriage Attitudes among Unmarried Young Adults: The Influence of Self-Perception and Societal Pressure

Neha Awan, Inam-Ur-Rehman, Dr. Asbah Zia

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.276
The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between societal pressure, self-perception, and attitudes toward marriage among unmarried young adults. It also examined gender differences in attitudes toward marriage and the significance of self-perception and perceived societal pressure in predicting attitudes toward marriage. The study hypothesized that, first, self-perception would be significantly associated with attitudes toward marriage; second, perceived societal pressure would be significantly associated with attitudes toward marriage; third, self-perception would be significantly associated with perceived societal pressure; and fourth, male and female unmarried young adults would differ significantly in self-perception, perceived societal pressure, and attitudes toward marriage. A quantitative correlational research design was used. The sample comprised 226 unmarried young adults (93 males and 133 females), aged 20–35 years, from Karachi, Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used to collect the data. Participants completed a demographic form and three standardized instruments: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS), and Marital Attitude Scale (MAS). Data were collected through online and face-to-face surveys after informed consent. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between self-perception and attitudes toward marriage, while no significant correlation was found between perceived societal pressure and attitudes toward marriage. A very small positive correlation was observed between self-perception and perceived societal pressure. Independent-samples t-tests showed no significant gender differences in self-perception, perceived societal pressure, or attitudes toward marriage. The findings indicate that internal psychological factors have a greater influence than external social factors on marriage attitudes among unmarried young adults.
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72-81
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Human-in-the-Loop Blockchain Governance for Project Change Control: Balancing Smart-Contract Automation and Managerial Discretion

Omema Rao, Naveed

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.279
Culture, Smart contracts provide a way to automate the change-control processes of your project, such as verifying the need for a change and how it is authorized and how many members need to be involved, implementation of the change, auditing the process and more. However, many if not most project alterations include dimensions where the information and requirements are ambiguous, where many different parties are conflicting, and where much of the information is not necessarily deterministically codable. This paper builds and evaluates a human-in-the-loop governance model merging smart-contract automation with formal managerial discretion. Analysis was implemented based on data provided by the researcher, consisting of 384 cases and 38 adapted items in the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha values were in the range of 0.929 to 0.957. The measure of sample adequacy, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin was 0.969 and 76.64% of variance was accounted for by the six factors. Using hierarchical regression, the overall results indicated that both two factors: smart-contract automation and process transparency, as well as structured managerial discretion, positively predicted the effectiveness of change control. Automation by discretion (beta = 0.105, p = 0.013) and discretion by project change complexity (beta = 0.108, p = 0.003) were both significant. Effectiveness of change control had a significant positive effect on project performance (Beta = .521; p < .001). Process transparency and change-control effectiveness were both indirectly important in bootstrap mediation analyses. The results suggest a complementarity principle: When the automation is backed up by bounded, auditable and context-sensitive human interaction, that is where it is most valuable. The workbook contains original field data collected from 384 respondents; therefore, the findings are presented as empirical evidence from the study sample.
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82-97
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Socio-Economic Determinants of Drug Recidivism in District Gujranwala: A Quantitative Criminological Analysis

Qaisar Nadeem Rana, Dr. Muhammad Hussain, Irfan Ullah

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.282
Drug recidivism constitutes one of the most persistent and complex challenges confronting criminal justice systems worldwide, particularly in developing nations where socio-economic vulnerabilities intersect with institutional deficiencies to perpetuate cycles of reoffending. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study that explores the statistical correlation between poverty, unemployment, lack of education, family dysfunction and reoffending patterns among drug offenders in District Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. The study used a structured questionnaire to gather responses from 238 participants recruited from drug offenders, rehabilitation professionals, and people in the criminal justice system, and was based on the three theories: Strain Theory, Social Disorganization Theory and Labeling Theory. The data were analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Findings identify poverty (β = 0.47, p < .001) and unemployment (β = 0.39, p < .001) as the strongest predictors of recidivism, followed by educational deprivation (β = −0.33, p < .05), family dysfunction (β = 0.28, p < .01), and rehabilitation inaccessibility (β = −0.29, p < .001). The five hypotheses were confirmed. The study concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations tailored to the socio-economic realities of Gujranwala, including targeted economic empowerment programmes, educational reforms within correctional facilities, and institutional restructuring of the rehabilitation framework to interrupt the cycle of drug recidivism.
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98-109
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Socio-Political Sources of the Gender Gap in Voter Turnout: An Analysis of General Elections-2024 in Gujranwala Division, Pakistan

Ayesha Riaz, Muhammad Mushtaq, Adil Zaman

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.283
A large body of literature has documented the gender gap in voter turnout both in developing and established democracies. However, there has been little consensus among scholars on the causes of the voter turnout gap between men and women. This study examines variability in voting among women and the impact of socio-political sources of the gender gap in Gujranwala Division, Pakistan. Building on survey evidence that employs purposive sampling (N =300), this study finds that more than one-third of women do not vote in general elections often. The one-way ANOVA test is performed to determine the inequality in voting among certain groups of women based on age, residence, profession, and education. The results indicate that women of different age groups (F = 1.904; P >.151) residing in urban or rural areas (F = .726; P >.395) do not exhibit statistically significant differences in opinion. However, the groups based on education (F = 24.344; P >.001) and profession (F = 5.729; P >.004) display statistically significant variation in responses. In addition, this study examines the impact of socio-political factors on the gender gap in voter turnout. Using Pearson correlation, it finds a significant positive relationship between “frequency of voting in elections” (FVE) and both political sources of the gender gap (PSGP; r = 0.551, p < .001) and socio-cultural sources (SSGP; r = 0.307, p < .001). The results imply that social and political obstacles significantly contribute to the gender gap in voter turnout. However, purposive sampling may limit the generalizability of these findings.
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110-122
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Beyond Green Policies: How Green Psychological Climate Translates Green HRM into Environmental Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Economy’s Banking Sector

Sajid Iqbal Khan, Dr. Khalid Rehman, Naik Ahmad, Dr. Muhammad Waseem Qureshi

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.284
In view of the pressing social and regulatory demands of aligning banks’ operational and strategic practices with environmental sustainability principles, this study examines the mediating role of green psychological climate in the relationship between green human resource practices and environmental performance, drawing evidence from the banking sector of Pakistan. Drawing on AMO theory, RBV, and climate theory, 359 conveniently selected banking sector professionals completed a survey questionnaire. The results of hierarchical regression analysis and Hayes’ PROCESS revealed that GPC partially mediates the relationship between GHRMPs and environmental performance, such that some of the effect of GHRMPs is direct on EP. At the same time, some of it is channelized through GPC to translate environmental outcomes. This study also discusses the results in the light of previous studies, followed by implications and directions for further research.
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123-134
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The Health Cost of Carbon: How Emissions, Urbanization, Life Expectancy and Economic Growth Shape Health Expenditures in BRICS Plus Countries

Agha Adnan Khan, Qurab Ali, Abdul Rab Gopang, Dr. Imad Ali Khowaja

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.273
This study investigates the linkages between carbon emissions, economic growth, life expectancy, urbanization, and health expenditure in the BRICS Plus countries for the time period 2000–2023. The study employs Balanced Panel data and Panel Econometric Methods to investigate the short-run and long-run relationship amongst selected variables. Panel Unit Root tests are used to test the stationarity of the data. Panel Cointegration tests are used to find out the long-run relationship between the variables. The study employs multiple estimation techniques such as FMOLS, DOLS, Panel ARDL-PMG, Fixed Effects, and Random Effects Models to achieve reliable results. The Hausman test is used to decide which estimation model is to be selected and preferred. The results show that the variables are in a stable long-run relationship with one another. The long-run results indicate that carbon emissions and life expectancy are not associated with health expenditure. Whereas economic growth is associated with health expenditure. The Error Correction Mechanism verifies that short-run changes move towards the long-run equilibrium. The Panel Regression results show that carbon emissions and urbanization are important factors affecting health expenditure
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135-151
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The Development of Teachers’ Training Practices of Madrasa Education in Pakistan Enlightened Educational Policies (1947-2024)

Shahar Bano, Dr. Abida Siddiqui, Abdul Haque, Sumera Khan, Asma Bhatti

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.252
Madrasa education is a significant component of Pakistan’s educational landscape since independence. Although the role of Madrasa is crucial to providing Islamic, religious, and social services, the history of Madrasa remained disconnected from formal education reforms, especially in the context of teacher training. This study examines the historical development of teacher training practices in madrasa education in Pakistan from 1947 to 2024, Educational policies. Applying a qualitative document analysis approach, the study reviews national education policies, reform programs, ordinances, and secondary literature related to madrasa reforms. The findings disclose three major phases in the evolution of madrasa teacher training: first Neglect and separation (1947–2001); second, securitization and regulation (2001–2015); and third, mainstreaming and pedagogical integration (2015–2024). The research determine whereas latest reforms initiated institutional frameworks for teacher training and curriculum integration, challenges related to implementation, funding, political opposition, and organization continue to prevent sustainable development. The study suggests collaborative and context-sensitive training frameworks for better professional development of madrasa teachers in Pakistan.
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152-165
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Institutional Support, Sociocultural Barriers, and Career Advancement Among Women Police Officers: A Case Study of District Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan

Maha Islam, Dr. Asiya Anwar

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.286
The present study examines the institutional, socio-cultural, and psychological challenges faced by women police officers in District Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan. Gender-based discrimination, restricted career progression, and work-related stress are common challenges faced by women officers that impact their job performance and well-being. The primary aim of this study is to investigate their impact on women constables' job satisfaction, career progression and mental well-being in a male-dominated police force. The aim of the study was to find the level of gender discrimination, socio-cultural factors influencing the performance, analyze to institutional support mechanisms, and evaluate the psychological effect of working conditions of women officers. For this study, the researcher used quantitative research approach. A structured questionnaire on 5-point Likert scale was used to gather data from 108 women police constables. Demographic and perceptual data were assessed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, whereas inferential statistics like chi-square tests examined variable correlations. The findings reveal that gender discrimination, work-life imbalance, lack of promotion opportunities, and inadequate institutional support are the most significant challenges faced by respondents. Furthermore, psychological stress and emotional exhaustion were found to be highly prevalent among women officers due to tough job conditions and limited support systems. The study concludes that both institutional and socio-cultural factors significantly hinder the professional growth and well-being of women participants in District Bhakkar. It recommends policy reforms, gender-sensitive training, improved workplace facilities, and stronger psychological support systems to enhance gender equality and organizational effectiveness in policing institutions.
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166-175
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From Social Media Platform Identification to Brand Evangelism: Unveiling the Mediating Role of Brand Affinity among Fashion Clothing Brands’ Followers

Tehreem Ali, Dr. Muhammad Amin

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.259
Despite the growing popularity of social media in influencing consumer-brand interactions, little is known about the mechanisms through which social media platform identification (SMPI) translates into the most committed degree of consumer advocacy i.e. brand evangelism within the fashion clothing brands. This study addresses this research gap by focusing on the mediating effect of brand affinity in the SMPI-evangelism relationship. Grounded in Social Identity Theory, this research uses a survey of active followers of major fashion clothing brands with the use of PLS-SEM in SmartPLS 4. The findings show that SMPI increases both brand affinity and evangelism, with affinity having a strong direct impact and acting as a complementing mediator. What is critical is the fact that cognitive identification alone does not suffice to produce evangelism; the follower needs to have an emotional connection with the brand. In essence, by expanding Social Identity Theory to the domain of social media platform identity, the study contributes to both theory and management practice.
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176-190
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A Study of Semantic and Communicative Losses in the English Translation of Ar-Raheeq-ul-Makhtoom by Safi-ur-Rehman Mubarakpuri

Marrium Sayyed, Dr. Muhammad Abdullah

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.288
ReadyCross culture communication is highly significant in today’s global village and translation plays a pivotal role in this regard. However, scholars mention various issues in the translation itself. This study investigates semantic and communicative losses in the translation of Ar-Raheeq-ul-Makhtoom from Urdu to English. The source text carries rich cultural and religious references, terms and phrases that pose a real challenge to the translator for accurate translation in the target language. Researchers have used Peter Newmark’s theory on semantic and communicative translation as a theoretical and analytical framework in the study. The analysis highlights that the translator most frequently adopts the communicative approach to make the text comprehensible and sometimes, he prefers semantic translation when the text is culturally and religiously rich. The findings of the study reveal that semantic faithfulness and communicative clarity may help convey the exact meanings of the source text up to greater extent.
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191-202
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Assessing the Socioeconomic, Physical, and Mental Health Status of Transgender Individuals in the Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Zeeshan Parwaiz, Muhammad Asif

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.285
Transgender individuals in Pakistan experience persistent social marginalization and unequal access to essential services, including education, employment, healthcare, and social welfare. These challenges often result in adverse socioeconomic conditions and negatively affect physical and psychological well-being. The present study evaluates the socioeconomic circumstances, physical health, and mental health of transgender individuals living in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The target population comprised all transgender individuals residing in these twin cities. Random and snowball sampling techniques were used for sample selection. The total transgender population in Islamabad/Rawalpindi was reported as 1,350 (Govt. of Pakistan, 2023). At a 95% confidence level, a sample of 300 transgender individuals was selected. A questionnaire was developed for data collection, and data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using SPSS-27. The results show that about 40 percent of selected transgender individuals have no formal education, while 30 percent have no job. About 78 percent live in rented houses that are not satisfactory to live in, and 51 percent experienced eviction or denial of housing due to gender identity. More than 66 percent of respondents think it is difficult to access healthcare services, while 37 percent have faced discrimination in healthcare settings. About 84 percent have no access to mental health support. It was found that 17 percent have very poor general health status. Furthermore, 84 percent feel down, depressed, or hopeless more than half the days or nearly every day, while 81 percent report little interest or pleasure in doing things. The study suggests policy measures to improve the socioeconomic and health profile of Pakistan’s transgender community.
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203-215
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From Scroll to Stadium: Understanding Fans' Engagement Behavior in the Digital Sports Era

Syed Zaki Abbas Shah, Muhammad Amin

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.257
Grounded in Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), this study investigates the mediating role of attitude toward online sports viewing in the relationship between convenience and online sports viewership behavior among users of high-definition (HD) mediated sports applications. Despite the rise in the digital sports viewership trend, the psychological pathway connecting convenience to viewership behavior is still not understood, especially in developing nations like Pakistan. A structured, five-point Likert-scale questionnaire was applied to gather information from 1,080 Pakistani sports enthusiasts using a quantitative, cross-sectional methodology. PLS-SEM was used for analysis. The findings show that attitude toward online sports viewing is strongly and favorably influenced by convenience (β =.236, p <.001), which in turn significantly predicts online sports viewing behavior (β =.668, p <.001).
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216-223
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Trends and Institutional Response to Human Rights Cases: A Secondary Data Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Shagufta Bibi, Ghulam Ali

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.271
This study explores the trends in human rights case reporting and institutional response against the backdrop of secondary data from the period 2019-2025. The primary goal is to examine trends of cases received, cases disposed and pending cases, to evaluate institutional efficiency over time. A quantitative research design was used, descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to find trends and relationships between the key variables. Results indicate that there is a statistically significant decrease in the number of cases received and disposed during the study period. The regression analysis showed that the number of reported cases as well as the number of cases disposed of over time showed a significant and more pronounced decrease. This indicates that the capacity of institutions to respond to cases is diminishing, particularly when case resolution is falling behind reporting of cases. By contrast, descriptive analysis reveals that there was a trend toward a growing number of pending cases over the last few years of the study, but there was no statistically significant trend identified. The findings indicate an increasing mismatch between case intake and institutional action, suggesting that human rights institutions may not be effective in providing timely justice. A decrease in reports does not necessarily mean human rights are improving, but may result from under-reporting, lack of access, or systemic problems. The study uses administrative data for a quantitative time-series analysis and fills a literature gap by measuring institutional performance over time. It highlights the need for institutional capacity strengthening, improved reporting systems, and greater efficiency.
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224-235
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Government Expenditure and CO₂ Emissions in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis

Bilawal, Adiba Fishan, Iftihaj Ali

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.260
The research analyzes short-run and long-run relationship between government expenditure and CO₂ emissions per capita in Pakistan from 1990 to 2020. It uses ARDL Bounds test to check cointegration among CO₂ emissions, government expenditure, GDP per capita, Energy use and Trade openness. All variables are I(1) integration. F-Bound statistics 8.31 exceeds one percent finite sample upper critical bound establishing robust cointegration. Government expenditure (coefficient 0.0542, p-value <0.05) shows that it has positive and significant long-run effect on CO₂ emissions. It means that one percent increase in expenditure to GDP ratio is associated with 5.4 percent(approximately) increase in CO₂ per capita emissions. Energy use per capita is the influential factor among them (elasticity= 2.44, p-value< 0.01). trade openness has small negative and significant effect ( -0.010, p<0.05) and GDP per capita is statistically insignificant. The error correction coefficient -0.603 (p<0.01) indicates that about 60 percent of short run deviation are corrected annually. CUSUM test confirms that parameters are stable. CUSUM sq tells us possible variance instability from around 2015 onwards, which may be the reason of macro fiscal changes due to CPEC period. This is acknowledged as limitation of this research. The findings suggest that environmental criteria should be integrated into Pakistan’s fiscal policy.
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236-247
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Shaping Nuclear Identity: The Role of National Branding in India and Pakistan’s Diplomatic Narratives

Asra Hassan, Dr. Muhammad Munir

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.312
Over the past several years, India and Pakistan have made it a point of State policy to increasingly tie nuclear capability to their foreign identities and civilian discussions. After conducting their first nuclear tests in 1998, the state policies of both countries have increasingly embedded the use of the nuclear capability as integral to their foreign identity and political discourse. Nuclear identity is not a military one but rather one of nation branding used as a strategic tool that manifests in international legitimacy, regional status, and foreign policy goals. In this paper, I analyze how both State A and the State B create and present different nuclear identities in the world political system through the use of diplomatic discourse. It draws particular official statements of policy, strategic statements and doctrines, speeches, and scholarly publications into a qualitative research analysis. The analysis suggests that the image of a responsible nuclear power that is dedicated to strategic restraint and international control comes from India, while Pakistan has its vision of nuclear capability as a credible deterrence and a stabilizing force within the immediate region. Overall, the study understandably finds that the national branding has a significant impact on international opinion regarding specific countries as well as on their diplomatic relationship and strategic engagements in the broader context of security as related to their respective South Asian cases.
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248-255
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Peer Support and Academic Performance among Undergraduate Students in Public Sector Universities: A Gender-Based Comparative Study

Amina Batool, Dr. Muhammad Faisal Farid, Sabeen Qamar

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.296
The study investigated students’ perceptions regarding peer support and academic performance in public sector universities. The objectives were to assess the level of peer support and academic performance, analyze the relationship between peer support and academic performance, and examine gender differences in both variables. The sample comprised 250 students from public sector universities. A 5-point Likert scale was used to collect data regarding peer support, while academic performance was measured through students’ CGPA. The reliability of the instrument, measured through Cronbach’s α, was 0.779. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation, and independent samples t-test, were used for data analysis. The findings indicated that peer support was not significantly related to academic performance at the university level. The mean score for peer support was 3.55 (SD = 0.604), whereas the mean score for academic performance was 2.86 (SD = 0.505). The results further revealed a negative but statistically nonsignificant relationship between peer support and academic performance (r = -0.101, p = 0.111), indicating that higher peer support was not associated with better academic performance. The study also found no significant difference in academic performance between male and female students (t = 0.512, p = 0.609). Similarly, no significant gender difference was found in peer support, although male students reported slightly higher peer support than female students (t = 1.91, p = 0.057). The findings suggest that academic performance in public sector universities may be influenced by factors other than peer support, and gender does not significantly affect either peer support or academic performance.
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256-269
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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Combating Climate Change Misinformation Across Digital Media Platforms

Dr. Sheikh Fakhar e Alam, Aysal Elham, Madiha Qamar, Akash Ali

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.300
Climate-change misinformation on digital media platforms is harming the public understanding of environmental risk and slowing collective action to tackle climate change. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are becoming a potential frontline of defence against such misinformation. This study explores the perceived impact of AI-assisted solutions such as automated fact-checking, natural language processing (NLP) content moderation, deepfake detection, algorithmic recommender re-ranking, and chatbot inoculation on decreasing exposure to and trust in climate misinformation on major social media platforms. A cross-sectional survey using a quantitative method was used. A structured questionnaire was administered on 300 active digital media users who were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, paired-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to analyse the data in SPSS v29. The mean effectiveness was highest (M = 4.32, SD = 0.71) for automated fact-checking, on a five-point Likert scale. Exposure to AI interventions significantly reduced weekly exposure to climate misinformation by an average of 44.6 % (t = 12.87, p < .001). Among the respondents, 68% trusted the AI-verified climate content to a moderate to high degree. Though there are challenges to broad-scale adoption, such as algorithmic transparency and cultural adaptability, AI-based interventions have the potential to greatly diminish exposure to climate misinformation and improve public trust in reliable information.
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270-279
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A Gender-Based Study of Teachers’ Social Role in Cultural Transformation

Dr. Sultan Akbar Shah, Dr. Shehla Sheikh, Dr. Fahmida Bibi

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-vi.318
The present study aimed at exploring the social function of the teachers of higher education in the process of culture transformation from gender perspective in public universities of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. The goals of the study were to explore the perspective of the University teachers and M.Phil/Ph.D scholars about the role of teachers in cultural transformation and to compare the views between male and female teachers. A quantitative method with descriptive research design was used. A 7-point Likert scale questionnaire was self-developed and used to collect data from the respondents, who in this study were made up of 93 male teachers, 30 female teachers, 121 male M.Phil./Ph.D. scholars and 127 female M.Phil./Ph.D. scholars, using random sampling of the population as per the sampling criteria of Krejcie and Morgan (1970). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and an independent samples t-test with the help of SPSS. The results showed that teachers as well as the M.Phil./Ph.D. scholars had positive perceptions of the role of teachers in culture transformation. The mean scores of male teachers were slightly lower than that of females, and the mean scores of female scholars were slightly lower than that of their male counterparts. In both the perceptions of teachers and scholars, the t-test results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the males and females (p > 0.05). The study finds, that higher education teachers have an important role in cultural change and that this role is seen the same by both male and female stakeholders. The study suggests that teacher professional development needs to be further strengthened and that cultural values be included in university education.
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280-287
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The Circular Imperative: Dynamic Capabilities, Governance, and Switching from Linear to Sustainable Value Chains: The Transition in the Context of Contingencies

Fatima Nawaz, Sana Sameen Sabir, Dr. Farah Yasser, Dr. Ramla Sadiq

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.289
This study has introduced an integrative framework that explains how firms transition from linear to circular value-chain through the adoption of circular economy (CE) practices as a strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Based on the Resource-Based View (RBV), Dynamic Capabilities View (DCV), Stakeholder Theory, and Institutional Theory, the study draws on existing literature and empirical evidence from various contexts, such as global manufacturing, food systems, and emerging markets. The role of external pressures and ownership structures in influencing firms to develop dynamic capabilities (e.g., innovation, reconfiguration of resources, integration of the environment) that can support the effective practice of CE is explored. Implementation challenges such as rebound effects in circular business models (CBMs) and governance problems are given a critical assessment. Key findings show that while technological developments, like Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and servitisation, are helpful for the adoption of CE in its early stages, advanced recycling and recovery processes need strong dynamic capabilities to make it possible.
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289-300
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Privacy in the Age of Surveillance: Reconciling State Security Interests with the Constitutional Right to Privacy in the Digital Era

Muhammad Babar Shaheen, Dr. Muhammad Shahid Sultan, Ahsin Ali

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.293
Digital surveillance has become a routine feature of governance, policing, intelligence, border control, welfare administration, and platform regulation. Its constitutional significance lies not merely in the quantity of data collected but in the capacity to combine communications content, metadata, location histories, biometric identifiers, device information, and algorithmic inferences into persistent profiles of individuals and groups. Pakistan faces a genuine security environment involving terrorism, violent extremism, espionage, organized crime, cyberattacks, and threats to critical infrastructure. Nevertheless, national security cannot convert secret technological capacity into legally unreviewable power. This paper examines how Pakistan can reconcile legitimate state-security interests with the constitutional right to privacy in the digital era. Using a doctrinal and comparative method, it interprets Articles 4, 8, 9, 10A, 14, 19, and 19A of the Constitution alongside Pakistan’s interception, telecommunications, cybercrime, digital-governance, and proposed data-protection frameworks. It then compares Pakistan with India, the United Kingdom and European human-rights system, the United States, and Canada. The paper argues that Article 14 must protect informational and communicational privacy beyond the physical home and that any surveillance measure must satisfy legality, legitimate aim, evidence-based necessity, strict proportionality, independent prior authorization, minimization, secure retention, accountable sharing, and effective remedy. The 2024 Islamabad High Court proceedings concerning the Lawful Intercept Management System and Amnesty International’s 2025 investigation illustrate the consequences of allowing infrastructure to outpace law. The paper proposes a Pakistan-specific model combining judicial authorization, specialized independent oversight, privacy-by-design, delayed notification, transparency reporting, and comprehensive data-protection legislation. Properly designed safeguards do not obstruct security; they improve intelligence quality, institutional legitimacy, evidentiary reliability, and constitutional trust.
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300-317
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Exploring the Factors Behind Women’s Political Marginalization in Balochistan

Fazal-Ur-Rehman, Dr. Abdul Rab, Dr. Amir Jan

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.341
The objective of this study was to explore the trend of women's political marginalization in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, as well as the complex interplay of various factors in maintaining this trend. This study employed a qualitative methodology, basing its theoretical perspectives on Nancy Fraser's two-pronged approach of misrecognition and misdistribution in explaining the concept of inequality in the political lives of women. In addition, this study was based on in-depth interviews with a diverse group of participants. ‍‌‍‍‌The findings of this study revealed that the political participation of women in the region was affected by the patriarchal ideology, the patriarchal norms, tribal politics, tribalism, the movement of women, the dependency of women on men, and the misapplication and misinterpretation of religion. All these factors are interrelated and interlinked in such a way that they create a cycle, which has led to the political marginalization of women in the region. In addition, the patriarchal ideology has led to the political class capturing the seats that were reserved for women, and the women are left with the role without any power to make any decisions. All these findings have led to the creation of a new historical trend of women's political marginalization in the region.
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318-329
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A Novel Examination of Learning Approaches and Their Influence on Student Performance in Higher Education

Mohammad, Zainab Nazir Chaudry, Asif Raheem Khan, Muhammad Ibrahim Chaudhary

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.305
The learning method has a significant impact on the acquisition, retention and application of knowledge and clinical skills by various students. A secondary data analysis was conducted in which responses to 20 questions were obtained from medical students of a major city of Pakistan, and which learning approaches, namely deep, surface and strategic learning relating to better academic performance were identified in this quantitative study. The analysis of the data was undertaken using secondary data analyzed by SmartPLS, in which correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to determine the power of the learning approach that can be predicted. The results reveal that all three methods are primarily related to academic performance, with deep learning being the strongest predictor of academic success, followed by the strategic learning approach. The findings point to a meaningful understanding and organized study behaviours as key drivers of excellence in medical education, even though surface learning is indicated with a positive, though comparatively weaker link. The insights gained reveal the importance of cultivating learning dispositions and attitudes that are deep and strategic, and encourage professors to create learning environments that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and self-regulated learning. The integration of evidence-based learning strategies with teaching will make it more effective to train students to be confident and competent in their professional practice in medical institutions.
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330-343
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When Beauty Means Goodness: Children’s Perceptions of Body and Morality in Media Narratives

Shafaq Zarreen Gul, Dr. Musarat Yasmin

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.365
This study dissects how children’s storybooks construct body-related ideals of beauty and ugliness through the portrayals of heroes and villains, and how these depictions shape young readers’ body perception and moral reasoning. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, we examined the narrative structures of selected storybooks alongside semi-structured interviews with second-graders (ages 7–8), in a qualitative deep-dive into how they perceive heroes and villains. Under the auspices of Creswell's social constructivism approach, the study highlights how children actively create meaning through their interactions with texts and their environments. The study looks into how children understand and occasionally challenge how characters are portrayed, as well as how discourses of morality, authority, and beauty standards are woven throughout them. Findings reveal that children don’t just absorb dominant narratives, they remix textual cues with social influences and personal experience. The research contributes to understanding how early media exposure influences children’s body image formation and aesthetic–moral judgments, underscoring the importance of balanced portrayals in promoting positive body attitudes and self-concepts.
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344-358
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Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Students' Academic Performance at Higher Level

Dr. Musarrat Habib, Dr. Shazia Bibi, Dr. Zunaira Fatima

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.366
Integration and alignment of Artificial Intelligence AI in academic activities is the teaching learning excellence and strength of student’s achievement. Integration of Artificial Intelligence AI is also the capacity to rebuilt the student’s performance in order to maintain teaching effectiveness and capability to show excellency in academic. In education, alignment of Artificial Intelligence AI tools is very necessary for both student’s perspectives and teacher’s perspective also, because it enhances academic excellence in teaching learning environment. The objectives of the study were to; identify the tools of Artificial Intelligence AI that students are using in academic excellence, effects of Artificial Intelligence AI tools on students’ academic achievement, compare the performance before and after using Artificial Intelligence AI tools. The target population was all the public and private universities that were located in the City Lahore. The accessible population was the one public and one private university were the University of Lahore and the University of Management and Technology. Through stratified sampling techniques, 200 students were selected from both universities. The self-developed questionnaire was used for the study. After the pilot-testing of the research tools, the data were analyzed through statistical tests. After the data collection the results were interpreted that after using the AI tools the students’ performance as compatibly better. It results was also reveals that the using of AI tools it was comprehensively better then without using this. The students improved their academic through AI tools, and their performance was much better. Both university students have used the AI tools in their studies.
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359-370
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Machine Learning-Based Exchange Rate Forecasting and Performance Evaluation: A Dual CNN-BiLSTM Framework with Explainable AI for the Pakistani Rupee

Walija Naseer, Dr. Muhammad Naveed Jan, Dr. Muhammad Shariq

doi https://doi.org/10.55737/trt/v-v.420
In this paper, we design and evaluate a novel dual hybrid architecture based on a combination of CNN and BiLSTM network (CNN-BiLSTM), for predicting exchange rates of the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) vis-à-vis the five key currencies: US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), British Pound (GBP), Chinese Yuan (CNY), and UAE Dirham (AED). Two different models with same architectural configuration but with independent training sets are designed in this research: one is a short-term model based on 22 technical indicators extracted from OHLC data of daily time horizon to predict tomorrow’s exchange rate, and another is a long-term model based on 26 features derived from six monthly macroeconomic factors: foreign exchange reserves, KIBOR, net foreign assets, inflation, balance of trade, and external debt servicing to predict next month’s exchange rate. With the 2010–2025-time span which includes 2018 devaluation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022-2023 currency crisis events, both models are validated using walk-forward cross-validation approach and explained by SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). In terms of technical model, MAPE stands at 0.08%-0.36% while the directional accuracy reaches 67.5%-72.8%, while the MAPE of the macroeconomic model stands at 1.23%-2.64%, directional accuracy at 64%-72%. The most important short-term determinants recognized by SHAP are trend-strength (ADX, +DI), while for the long-term inflation rate, net foreign asset value, and KIBOR are identified as the determinants. The results in the simulated trading environment show that profits and positive alpha are generated over buy-and-hold benchmarks for both models and all five currency pairs, showing statistical and economic relevance and interpretability of the CNN-BiLSTM approach.
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371-389

Vol. 5 No. 5 (2026): Issue 5 (May Issue)

Articles

The Role of Institutional Quality in Shaping Environmental Performance

Beyond the Numbers: A Qualitative Exploration of Female University Students' Experiences with Generative AI in Personalized Learning at a Pakistani University

Factors Influencing the Investment Intentions of Millennials in an Emerging Economy: The Impact of Financial Advertising Using PLS-SEM Evidence from Pakistan

Sustainable Consumption Behavior among Educated Generation Z: The Roles of Environmental Awareness and Perceived Financial Literacy

Emotional Regulation in Pakistani Women

Marriage Attitudes among Unmarried Young Adults: The Influence of Self-Perception and Societal Pressure

Human-in-the-Loop Blockchain Governance for Project Change Control: Balancing Smart-Contract Automation and Managerial Discretion

Socio-Economic Determinants of Drug Recidivism in District Gujranwala: A Quantitative Criminological Analysis

Socio-Political Sources of the Gender Gap in Voter Turnout: An Analysis of General Elections-2024 in Gujranwala Division, Pakistan

Beyond Green Policies: How Green Psychological Climate Translates Green HRM into Environmental Performance: Evidence from an Emerging Economy’s Banking Sector

The Health Cost of Carbon: How Emissions, Urbanization, Life Expectancy and Economic Growth Shape Health Expenditures in BRICS Plus Countries

The Development of Teachers’ Training Practices of Madrasa Education in Pakistan Enlightened Educational Policies (1947-2024)

Institutional Support, Sociocultural Barriers, and Career Advancement Among Women Police Officers: A Case Study of District Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan

From Social Media Platform Identification to Brand Evangelism: Unveiling the Mediating Role of Brand Affinity among Fashion Clothing Brands’ Followers

A Study of Semantic and Communicative Losses in the English Translation of Ar-Raheeq-ul-Makhtoom by Safi-ur-Rehman Mubarakpuri

Assessing the Socioeconomic, Physical, and Mental Health Status of Transgender Individuals in the Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

From Scroll to Stadium: Understanding Fans' Engagement Behavior in the Digital Sports Era

Trends and Institutional Response to Human Rights Cases: A Secondary Data Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Government Expenditure and CO₂ Emissions in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis

Shaping Nuclear Identity: The Role of National Branding in India and Pakistan’s Diplomatic Narratives

Peer Support and Academic Performance among Undergraduate Students in Public Sector Universities: A Gender-Based Comparative Study

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Combating Climate Change Misinformation Across Digital Media Platforms

A Gender-Based Study of Teachers’ Social Role in Cultural Transformation

The Circular Imperative: Dynamic Capabilities, Governance, and Switching from Linear to Sustainable Value Chains: The Transition in the Context of Contingencies

Privacy in the Age of Surveillance: Reconciling State Security Interests with the Constitutional Right to Privacy in the Digital Era

Exploring the Factors Behind Women’s Political Marginalization in Balochistan

A Novel Examination of Learning Approaches and Their Influence on Student Performance in Higher Education

When Beauty Means Goodness: Children’s Perceptions of Body and Morality in Media Narratives

Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Students' Academic Performance at Higher Level

Machine Learning-Based Exchange Rate Forecasting and Performance Evaluation: A Dual CNN-BiLSTM Framework with Explainable AI for the Pakistani Rupee

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