This paper emphasizes digital transformation and a paperless Punjab Assembly in today’s modern era. It highlights e-parliaments in light of the Digital Maturity Index of IPU. The focus is on how we can control environmental pollution and how a paperless assembly can help reduce paper wastage, thereby contributing to a cleaner and greener environment. It also discusses how this initiative can support the Government of Punjab and the CPA in achieving the SDG goals, enhance the performance of the Secretariat, and assist members in the legislative process. Realizing Pakistan's status of being one of the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate change, the new Article 9A has been inserted in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 through 26th Amendment: “9A. Clear and Healthy Environment - Everyone has the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.”

Educational technology has a great revolution in all the fields of education. In the field of distance education, educational technology plays a vital role by providing new and cost-effective platforms to make the teaching-learning process efficient, reaching and developing life skills among learners. UNESCO categorized life skills into main three areas cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills. In the present study interpersonal skills were focused which aimed to examine UNESCO’s life skills’ development through educational technology interventions, particularly in the context of interpersonal life skills of distance learners of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). The population of the study was B. Ed 4 Years students of which 70 students were randomly selected. Research design was quantitative followed by a survey method. Self-developed research tool was administered, and data was analysed in terms of descriptive statistics. The findings suggest that distance learners using educational technology show strong interpersonal life skills in all the sub-constructs including communication skills, cooperation, conflict resolution, teamwork, respect for others, emotional understanding, problem-solving, and active listening. Comparisons indicated no gender difference indicating that educational technology effectively fosters interpersonal life skills among all distance learners. There was no significant difference in interpersonal life skills based on respondents’ computer literacy levels, job status, and income levels. It is concluded that educational technology intervention develops interpersonal life skills among distance learners. The study recommends that educational technology interventions may be used in all forms of education to enhance the interpersonal life skills of the learners.

There has been substantial literature on smartphone addiction; however, limited studies have been conducted in Pakistan. To address this gap, provide a foundation for future research, and offer valuable implications for the youth of Pakistan, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of problematic smartphone use on academic procrastination. The study employed a cross-sectional correlational research design and a purposive sampling technique to collect data from students aged 18 to 30 at private and public medical colleges, engineering colleges, and universities in Pakistan who own smartphones and have been using them for at least one year. The study utilized the Smartphone Addiction Scale and the Academic Procrastination Scale to assess the variables. The correlational analysis revealed a significant positive association between problematic smartphone use and academic procrastination, while regression analysis indicated that problematic smartphone use significantly and positively predicts academic procrastination. The study provides comprehensive implications, including the need for government policies, positive parental involvement, awareness campaigns, promoting help-seeking behavior among adolescents, and encouraging mental health professionals to provide psychoeducation to the community.

This study examines the relationship between Pakistan's economic growth and investments in human capital. It investigates how spending on human capital significantly affects economic expansion. The education and health sectors are two main areas where money is spent on human capital. Federal and provincial governments also track the total amount spent on the health and education sectors. At the federal level, GDP is a stand-in for economic growth, whereas per capita income is employed at the provincial level. The empirical association between the underlying variables has been estimated using time series data spanning 1985–2016. Both long-run and short-run coefficients have been calculated using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Error Correction models. The study's conclusions suggest that investing in human capital, particularly in health and education, raises GDP and per capita income because it boosts worker productivity. Furthermore, the results also showed that investing in human capital will strengthen Pakistan's economic expansion.

The study emphasizes that closing the gender gap in education enhances individual economic opportunities and contributes significantly to national development. Educated women are more likely to enter higher-paying professions, improve household well-being, and make informed health and family planning decisions. Similarly, investing in male education fosters a more competitive and innovative workforce, driving technological advancements and industrial growth. To maximize these benefits, it is essential to implement targeted policies that improve access to quality education and align educational programs with labour market demands. A well-educated population strengthens economic resilience, reduces income inequality, and paves the way for long-term prosperity in Pakistan.

This study investigates the critical factors shaping the effectiveness of Pakistan's foreign policy, emphasizing economic, energy, environmental, and diplomatic dimensions. Employing multivariate regression analysis, the research examines the influence of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), energy security concerns, environmental sustainability perspectives, and diplomatic engagements on public perceptions of foreign policy effectiveness. The findings reveal that the economic benefits of CPEC significantly enhance the perceived effectiveness of Pakistan's foreign policy, with respondents linking positive economic outcomes to stronger foreign relations. Conversely, energy security concerns show no substantial impact on public perceptions, while attitudes toward environmental sustainability and diplomatic initiatives demonstrate a positive correlation. The study underscores the importance of integrating economic initiatives, environmental priorities, and robust diplomacy to strengthen public confidence in foreign policy. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to enhance the strategic effectiveness of a nation's foreign relations.

This study aimed to explore parental concerns and the influence of family structure on gender equality in Education in Pakistani culture. This study used the mixed method approach to collect data from 360 parents through household surveys and in-depth interviews. The findings, derived from logistic regression analysis, reveal that living in nuclear families significantly enhances girls' educational opportunities (B = 2.264, p = .001). In contrast, traditional norms in joint family systems act as a constraint (B = 1.930, p = .051). Parental attitudes were found to be pivotal in shaping educational equity; strong support for girls' Education and Higher Education positively predicted gender equality (B = 3.778, p < .001). Conversely, prioritizing boys' Education (B = 3.894, p < .001) and assigning household responsibilities to girls (B = 1.724, p = .035) negatively impacted gender parity. The qualitative results revealed that daughters' safety, family honor, financial constraints, and favoring sons over daughters significantly influenced educational decisions. Interestingly, while not statistically significant, factors such as social norms, economic constraints, and religious considerations were identified as underlying barriers to achieving gender equity. The study concluded that it emphasizes the importance of fostering gender equality in Education as a pathway to broader social and economic development in Pakistan. The study recommends the implementation of parental awareness campaigns, offering financial incentives, improving school safety, and increasing the availability of female teachers to enhance educational access for girls.

This study explores the key determinants influencing consumer purchase intention toward electric vehicles (EVs) and their role in promoting pro-environmental behavior. In light of increasing climate concerns and sustainability goals, understanding the behavioral and technological factors that drive EV adoption is crucial, particularly in emerging economies. The research integrates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to examine performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, and environmental concern. A quantitative approach using survey data from 400+ respondents was analyzed via PLS-SEM and regression techniques. Results show that environmental concern is the most significant predictor of EV purchase intention, followed by performance expectancy. Surprisingly, social influence had no meaningful effect, challenging traditional views on peer-driven technology adoption. Facilitating conditions and effort expectancy had a moderate impact. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, marketers, and sustainability advocates, highlighting the importance of environmental awareness over social cues in driving EV adoption. This research contributes to the theoretical advancement of green consumer behavior and offers strategic recommendations for increasing EV penetration. Future research should explore the moderating role of financial incentives and government policy in shaping EV-related decisions.

The South China Sea, being one of the most important maritime regions with resources and trading routes, has become one of the world's most disputed regions in the contemporary world. Central to the conflict are artificial islands constructed by states, particularly China, to declare sovereignty and expand maritime zones. However, do these artificial islands have any legal basis that can be recognized under international law? Can UNCLOS shed light on this issue, or does it fail to address artificial manipulations of nature adequately? This paper thus seeks to analyze the legal nature of artificial islands to determine the validity of territorial claims, international courts' reactions, and impacts on regional stability. Is this a prima facie case of a legal vacuum where some states can indulge in acts of aggression, or are we seeing a new law emerging in international maritime law? The results of this article highlight the complex intersection of technology, international law, and geopolitics, particularly in the South China Sea. It shows how, while legally unrecognized under UNCLOS, artificial islands still play a significant role in sovereignty claims and regional stability. The article also stresses the urgent need for legal reforms to adapt to technological advancements. It suggests practical solutions like multinational monitoring and environmental compensation mechanisms to address the growing tension in the region.

The present study examines differences in psychological distress and marital adjustment between spouses of Hepatitis C patients based on socioeconomic and gender status, specifically addressing dissimilarities in emotional and couple functioning due to economic and gender disparities. Hepatitis C is a chronic and progressive disease, and there is a substantial caregiver burden required, which should increase stress and negatively impact marital quality. With the data collected from 200 spouses of Ayub Medical Complex and Combined Military Hospital Abbottabad Pakistan, this research investigates the moderating effects of economic resources and gender roles on psychological distress and other factors pertinent to marital satisfaction, such as affection expressing marital adjustment and dyadic cohesion. Results identified by the study show that compared to spouses with higher SES, participants with lower SES have significantly elevated levels of psychological distress and reduced marital adjustment, indicating the role of economic stress in caregiver stress. The female spouses continue to display higher levels of distress and lower marital satisfaction and cohesiveness than male spouses, replicating the usual female gender role expectations of the traditional caregiver. Also, gender and economic level cross-tabulations show differences in coping and support seeking and, hence, mental health and relationship quality. These results indicate the further imperative of targeting specific psychological and social support for economically disadvantaged and female carers to alleviate their specific known burdens, providing a foundation for developing policies dealing with marital stress in chronic illness situations, among other proposals.