International Journal of Politics & Social Sciences Review (IJPSSR)

The Role of AKRSP in Socio-Economic Development of Gilgit Baltistan: A Case Study of District Skardu

Basharat Hussain — 2025-04-05

This abstract provides an overview of the performance played by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program in the socio-economic development of Skardu, a region located in the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan. The AKRSP is a prominent development organization that aims to progress the eminence of life and welfare of marginalized communities from end to end a participatory and holistic approach.

Skardu is renowned for its high mountains peaks i-e k-2 and enchanting tourism spots. Its geostrategic significance and being the gateway to kargil and Ladakh. In Skardu non- governmental organizations (NGOs) play vital role in the socio-economic development. This study concentrates on the contribution of one of NGO Aga Khan Rural Supports Programme (AKRSP) which serves in the socio-economic development of District Skardu. District Skardu is very prominent for its agriculture products and tourism spots. Because of the lack of cognizance and connection with the main market, the framers are remained abortive to access the market and approximately 50 per cent of their agricultural products become squander. Aga Khan Rural Supports Programme (AKRSP) performing as bridge to linkup the farmers with main markets since 1982. The plan supports an enormous variation of community-led expansion efforts across a variety of thematic areas, including environment pliability, civil society, agriculture and food security, early childhood progress, education, climate resilience, community infrastructure development, the Programme support an massive variety of local area drove enhancement endeavors across a variability of topical regions, including environment strength, common society, farming and food security, youth improvement, instruction, environment flexibility, local area infrastructure development.

Furthermore, the AKRSP has prioritized the empowerment of women and marginalized groups in Skardu. It has implemented initiatives that promote women's participation in decision-making processes, skill development, and income-generating activities. By enabling women to become active contributors to the local economy, the AKRSP has fostered social inclusion and gender equality in the region.

The AKRSP has been instrumental in strengthening local institutions and community-based organizations. It has facilitated the formation of village organizations, cooperatives, and networks, enabling communities to collectively address their development needs. By building social capital and promoting community-driven initiatives, the AKRSP has empowered local communities to take ownership of their development process.

Moreover, the AKRSP has played a pivotal role in improving access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean water in Skardu. It has constructed and upgraded schools, health centers, and water supply schemes, ensuring that basic services reach the marginalized communities in the region.

Evaluating the Awareness of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology in University Libraries across Pakistan

Ghulam Farooque Channar — 2025-04-19

This study evaluates the awareness of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology among library professionals in university libraries across Pakistan. RFID technology is crucial in modern library management, enhancing inventory control, item tracking, and security measures. The study collects data from 41 university libraries and analyzes it using descriptive and inferential statistics through SPSS. The results show that library professionals in Pakistan generally possess a high level of awareness of RFID, though challenges remain in its widespread adoption. Further analysis revealed no significant difference in awareness based on gender, organization type (public or private), age, experience, or qualifications. Both male and female respondents displayed similar awareness levels, and organizational type did not affect the outcome, indicating equal investment in RFID knowledge across libraries. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, experience, and qualifications did not influence RFID awareness, suggesting that training and professional development is key contributors to awareness. The study shows that RFID awareness among library professionals in Pakistan is high and does not significantly vary based on demographic or professional characteristics. These findings suggest a need for standardized training and development programs to further enhance RFID knowledge across university libraries.

Socio-Emotional Challenges faced by the Students with Visual Impairment in Mainstream Educational Settings

Dr. Hina Hadayat Ali — 2025-04-23

The study aimed to explore the impact of socio-emotional challenges faced by student with visual impairment in mainstream educational settings. The research was descriptive in nature. Survey design was used in the study to approach the participants and collect data for the research. The population of this study consisted of all the students with visual impairment currently studying in public mainstream educational institutions of the district Faisalabad. Convenient sampling technique was used to select the sample. A sample of 50 students with visual impairment was chosen to collect the data for the study from mainstream educational institutes of district Faisalabad. In the present study, a questionnaire containing 38 questions was framed for the students with visual impairment. All the questions were close ended. Researchers visited University of Education Lahore Faisalabad Campus, Government College University Faisalabad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and approached the students with visual impairment. The data was collected by hand. The analysis of the data was made though SPSS in term of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The results of the study showed that socio-emotional challenges faced by the student with visual impairment included the lack of caring attitude disturbs their feelings, and avoid to share ideas with them by normal peers. The socio-emotional challenges of students with visual impairment were moderately impacting the mental health of the students with visual impairment in terms of negative remarks of others making them sad, and feel anxious about the future education and employment, and harsh attitude of peers was making them feel angered. Students with visual impairment have good self-concept. Students with visual impairment were considering them a good learner, able to complete their studies, as well as able to understand the lessons quite easily. The impact of socio-emotional challenges on academic performance of the students was not very significant. Although students were feeling bored at the school, refuse and avoid to take part in learning activities, and negative behavior of others urge to dropout from the school.

Education as a Significant Factor in Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in Pakistan: Prospects and Challenges Case Study of South Punjab (2008-18)

Saba Lodhi — 2025-04-03

Empowerment means to give an opportunity to strengthen someone’s position in the society. The women empowerment refers to weaken the inequalities to ensure equality without any discrimination of gender and create possibilities to enable women to attain skills for their progress. Socio-economic empowerment of women expounds the equitable prospects for women to enhance their capacity to bring change in their life. This procedure assists women to make choices, to develop compatibility with their social setting and alteration of their self-image. In this perspective education is the paramount factor to uplift womenfolk largely in underprivileged areas. Women access to education enhances their capacity and provides maximum opportunities for socio-economic growth. This research focuses on the prospects and challenges of the policies by Shahbaz Sharif’s government from 2008-2018 regarding socio-economic empowerment of women in South Punjab. Data is collected and analysed qualitatively.

Impact of Knowledge Sharing on Vaccination in Rural Areas of South Punjab, Pakistan

Asma ul Husna — 2025-05-03

This study investigates the impact of knowledge sharing on childhood vaccination in rural areas of South Punjab, Pakistan, focusing on mothers in District Layyah. The study population belonged to the southern part of Punjab, Pakistan. A questionnaire was developed after carefully considering the literature on childhood vaccination adoption approach objectively examines variables such as risk perception, systematic processing, information seeking, vaccine knowledge, and vaccine inadequacy. This study is helpful to design effective strategies to fill communication gaps and highlights the importance of a public awareness campaign to ensure vaccination acceptance.

Political Tug-of-War: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the Crossfire of the US-China Rivalry

Athar Uddin — 2025-05-18

In the post-Cold War era, China’s emergence as a major economic and military power prompted the United States (US) to recalibrate its strategic priorities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a key point of contention. The US perceives CPEC as a danger to its regional influence and economic interests, alleging that it advances China’s hegemonic ambitions through unfair financial practices. Therefore, this qualitative study examines the intricate relationship and the rivalry between the US and China on CPEC through the lens of Realism and Hegemonic stability theory (HST). It investigates how US counterstrategies and regional alliances, particularly with India, aim to challenge CPEC’s progression and China’s growing footprint in South Asia. The article argues that the US sees CPEC as part of China’s expansion, which diminishes the hegemony of the US. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the power dynamics surrounding CPEC and offers insights into how this rivalry shapes the broader geopolitical landscape of South Asia.

Religion as an Instrumentum Regni under the Imran Khan Government (2018-2022): An Analysis of its Impact on the State and Society

Dr. Zahid Ullah — 2025-05-18

This paper examines Imran Khan’s use of religion as a tool of politics during his premiership (2018 to 2022) and its impact on the state and society. The instrumentalization of religion is not unprecedented in Pakistan’s history; rather, it is a recurring pattern that continues to characterize mainstream electoral politics today. Imran Khan's bragging about modelling his government on the “State of Madina” and the establishment of the “Rehmatul-lil-Aalameen” Authority (RAA), etc., would serve a political purpose—to win the sympathy of the people (and power). Simply put, he used religion as a tool to give his dubiously elected government a facade of legitimacy—his political opponents dubbed him as “selected” by the military establishment rather than elected by the people of Pakistan. He revived the legacy of General Zia-ul-Haq by giving the “Islamic touch” to everything political—and to his political ambition, by extension. This use of religion for politics in Pakistan has engendered polarisation (religious, social, and political) as well as religiously motivated extremism (and terrorism)—with a negative impact on its social cohesion, democracy, and economy. Methodologically, the study is qualitative and based on secondary sources, with data collected from books, research papers, research articles, and periodicals.

The Role of the United States in the Iran-Israel Conflict: An Analysis

Zainab — 2025-05-18

The Iran-Israel struggle, while now not an immediate warfare, reveals decades of geopolitical tensions founded in ideological, non-secular, and regional electricity dynamics. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran has put itself in competition with Israel, demanding its eradication, while aiding proxy corporations like Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel, in turn, considers Iran’s effect and nuclear goals as existential dangers, leading to covert actions, hacking, and strikes on Iranian-subsidized forces in Syria. The United States has played a crucial role in this war, moving between diplomatic attempts, navy techniques, and financial sanctions. After the 1979 revolution and the hostage catastrophe, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran, siding extra solidly with Israel. Over the years, Washington sought to comprise Iran's effect via numerous techniques, including arms embargos and labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist commercial enterprise. For a long time, we have seen varying U.S. strategies—from Obama’s diplomatic attempts through the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to Trump’s pullout from the deal and a "most pressure" marketing campaign towards Iran. Israel has rejected the JCPOA, fearing it might empower Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. The Abraham Accords, which normalized members of the family among Israel and many Arab states, attempted to offset Iran’s impact. In parallel, the U.S. has worked to prevent a direct navy escalation between Israel and Iran, regardless of rising regional instability.