Journal of Professional Research in Social Sciences

Terrorism’s Persistence as a Historical Paradox: A Personal Recollection of Developing the Research Problem and its Methodological Resolution

2026-01-02T07:18:04+00:00

This research note recollects the beginning of the author’s interest in understanding the paradoxical phenomenon of persistent terrorism, intriguing because of its continued existence, though historically rarely achieving the central goals of its practitioners. It describes how empirical observations of enduring terrorism in Pakistan and around the world ultimately led to its investigation as part of a larger methodologically driven systematic study, culminating in a PhD and later in a book. The research note aims to inspire readers to engage with the topic as a potential contribution toward addressing the terrorism problem. Further, it implicitly highlights a methodological process for the developing scholars and potential researchers studying political violence.

Determinants of Unemployment among Educated Youth: Empirical Reflections from Twin Cities, Pakistan

2025-07-01T09:38:22+00:00

Youth unemployment represents a persistent global challenge, particularly within developing economies where its social and economic repercussions are profound. Pakistan is no exception, as a significant proportion of its young population continues to face difficulties in accessing meaningful employment opportunities. This study investigates the determinants of youth unemployment and their relationship with unemployment rates in Pakistan, with a specific focus on the metropolitan regions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Data were collected from a sample of 300 individuals aged 18 to 29 years, each possessing a minimum educational qualification of a diploma or associate degree (14 years of education). Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify significant factors influencing unemployment. The results indicate that age has an inverse relationship with unemployment, suggesting that older youth are more likely to be employed. Gender disparities were also evident, with men exhibiting lower unemployment rates compared to women. Furthermore, marital status emerged as a significant determinant, as unmarried individuals were found to be more susceptible to unemployment. Socioeconomic background also influenced outcomes; middle-class respondents demonstrated higher employment rates due to greater adaptability and continuous engagement in the labor market. Conversely, individuals awaiting government job opportunities exhibited higher unemployment levels. The study concludes that technical and vocational skills play a pivotal role in reducing unemployment among educated youth by enhancing employability and aligning qualifications with labor market demands. Policymakers are encouraged to strengthen skill-oriented education and promote private-sector participation to mitigate youth unemployment in Pakistan.

Barriers to Environmental Journalism in Pakistan

2025-07-14T17:16:51+00:00

Pakistan emits a very small percentage of the total carbon emissions in the world, but it is prone to climate change, with frequent floods, droughts, and an increase in temperature. Despite these threats, the level of environmental awareness among the citizens is low, partly because of poor communication through the media. This paper examines journalistic practice of environmental communication in Pakistan, structural and institutional constraints that inhibit effective reporting. The qualitative research design was adopted in study, relied on semi-structured interviews of five senior journalists working in print, television, and news agencies. Interview thematic analysis showed that the main issues that contribute to the undermining of environmental coverage include financial limitations, political interests, poor access to technology, poor journalist-scientist connections, and the absence of editorial interest. It is necessary to conduct specific institutional changes, financing, and the establishment of partnership networks of journalists and scientific communities.

Role of Social Media Platforms and Social Influence on Trip Planning Behavior of Tourists in Pakistan

2025-07-17T10:58:06+00:00

This research aims to analyze the role of social media platforms and social influence on tourist trip-planning behavior in Pakistan. The researcher used pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip as a construct of trip planning in Pakistan. A quantitative research method was employed, and data were collected by using a structured survey questionnaire from Pakistani youth and millennials. For the sample size, the researcher used the Krejcie-Morgan formula, resulting in a sample size of 386. The population consisted of Pakistani social media users. The researcher applied the social influence theory & uses and gratification theory as a theoretical framework. To analyze relationship between social media and social influence on trip planning behavior, the researcher applied Pearson correlation and an independent t-test through SPSS. The findings highlighted a strong relationship between social media usage and trip planning behavior among Pakistani tourists. Social influence, such as peer and family recommendations, shared experiences, identified a strong, consistent relationship with tourists' trip planning behavior in all stages. In current research, Youth showed higher scores than millennials in utilizing social media and trip planning behavior. The current study can help social media users, including youth and millennial age groups, group owners, and policymakers, to develop new strategies to assist tourists in searching for information about trip planning in Pakistan. Limited studies have been conducted on the usage of social media for trip planning behavior and the social influence of tourists in Pakistan.

An Evidence-Based Framework for Counterterrorism Police Training in Pakistan: Diagnosing and Designing

2026-01-02T08:30:27+00:00

Pakistan’s internal security landscape increasingly relies on a police-led counterterrorism (CT) approach, yet the corresponding training ecosystem remains fragmented and inconsistently applied across different ranks. This article assesses the contemporary condition of CT training within Pakistan’s police, proposing an evidence-based framework to systematize essential competencies. Methodologically, it conducts a structured document analysis of national and provincial policies, training syllabi, program materials, and incident datasets (2010–2024), complemented by a single-case study of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab. A hybrid inductive-deductive coding scheme was applied to these sources, with triangulation used to pinpoint strengths, deficits, and potential design levers. The findings highlight islands of capability, such as specialist CTDs, forensic linkages, and targeted courses that coexist with systemic flaws: a limited reach beyond elite units, inconsistent curricula and assessment, insufficient emphasis on rights-based community engagement, and weak monitoring and evaluation. In response, the study proposes a practical framework featuring a three-tier national CT curriculum connected to promotion gates and refreshers; a trainer-of-trainers registry with recertification; mandated scenario-based drills and after-action reviews; and a national dashboard to track coverage, quality, and operational proxies. This transition from diagnosis to design outlines a scalable path for mainstreaming CT competence, while simultaneously strengthening legality, accountability, and public trust.

Electronic Voting Machines and Transparency in the Electoral Process: A Case Study of India

2025-08-29T12:36:08+00:00

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are electronically advanced apparatus introduced to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process. Their primary purpose is to ensure free, fair, and secure elections. In India, the electoral system initially based on a manual paper-ballot voting method, which was often plagued by issues such as electoral fraud, booth capturing, inefficiency, rigging, and ballot tampering. To address these challenges, India adopted EVMs as a means to bring greater transparency and accountability to its electoral process. This study aims to evaluate the role of EVMs in improving transparency and efficiency within India's electoral system. It also analyzes the responses of key stakeholders including voters, political parties, the media, the intelligentsia, and the judiciary towards the introduction and implementation of electronic voting technology. The qualitative method was used in this study. The researchers apply transparency and efficiency theory as well as system theory to highlights the critical importance of free and fair elections in a democratic setup. The study concludes that the adoption of EVMs has significantly reduced the time required for both casting and counting votes. Furthermore, it has contributed to the decline of electoral malpractices such as ballot stuffing, booth capturing, and invalid voting. Overall, EVMs have enhanced the efficiency and transparency of the Indian electoral process, reinforcing public trust in democratic institutions.

EU REPower Plan 2022: Reducing Russian Energy Dependence Through Renewables and Energy Security Framework

2025-09-30T13:12:35+00:00

The REPowerEU initiative (2022–2025) illustrates a strategic transition in the European Union’s energy policy, centered on three pillars: energy efficiency, clean energy expansion, and diversification of energy imports. The research highlights the progress in decreasing reliance on Russian fossil fuels and advancing renewable energy deployment. Significant achievements include a marked decline in Russian energy imports and a surge in solar and wind capacity across the EU. Germany’s rapid solar rollout underlines effective implementation, while Eastern European states face challenges due to underdeveloped LNG infrastructure, revealing disparities in national readiness and investment. Despite these improvements, the initiative faces structural obstacles such as delayed permitting processes and uneven implementation across member states. REPowerEU has also influenced the EU’s geopolitical orientation, reinforcing energy ties with the U.S. and Norway. However, new dependencies particularly on hydrogen and critical raw materials pose long-term strategic risks. Addressing these issues requires streamlined regulatory frameworks, targeted funding to alleviate energy poverty, and proactive measures to manage emerging vulnerabilities. The research presents a subtle insight into REPowerEU’s potential to reshape the EU’s energy landscape, highlighting the momentum gained and the enduring complexities of achieving a sustainable and resilient energy future.

Navigating Regional Connectivity via Belt and Road Initiative: Prospects and Challenges of South and Central Asian Integration amid Changing Geopolitical Dynamics

2025-09-02T17:42:41+00:00

Promoting regional connectivity has been emerging as a new form of competition among states. In the quest for regional connectivity, China has launched Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance its access to different regions by laying the land, rail, and sea routes infrastructure. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI, envisages increasing connectivity and regional integration of South Asia and its adjacent regions. Both South and Central Asia serve each other’s interests as one is energy-rich and the other is energy-deficient region. This study attempts to investigate how the BRI along with Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) is navigating and realizing the dream of regional connectivity? It further aims to explore the hurdles in the way to realize the dream of South and Central Asian connectivity and integration. However, the changing geopolitical dynamics, particularly the state of affairs in Afghanistan presents new set of challenges and affects the cause of South and Central Asian regional connectivity and integration. Afghanistan’s geographical location between Pakistan and Central Asia, its volatile security situation, and the challenges emanating from US withdrawal have serious repercussions for regional connectivity and integration. On the whole, this article is the assessment of the role of BRI/CPEC and the opportunities and challenges for South and Central Asian regional connectivity and integration. This qualitative study utilises content analysis approach. This study concludes that CPEC is not just a connectivity initiative but an enabler of Central and South Asian integration despite enormous challenges in its execution.

We Just Call Them Problem Children: Understanding How School Leaders Define, Explain, and Manage Juvenile Delinquency in Pakistan

2026-01-02T10:11:01+00:00

This qualitative study explored how school leaders in Pakistan understand, explain, and manage juvenile delinquency within their institutional settings. Drawing on Agnew’s General Strain Theory (1992), the research examined principals’ interpretations of antisocial behavior, the underlying causes they identified, and the strategies they employed to maintain discipline. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 principals from government high schools across Rawalpindi, Murree, and Gujjar Khan tehsils, and the data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step approach, supported by NVivo 12 Plus for coding and organization. Three major themes emerged. The first captured the manifestations and awareness of delinquent behaviors, including truancy, bullying, disrespect, and digital misconduct, highlighting the limited conceptual familiarity with the formal term “juvenile delinquency.” The second theme reflected administrative and preventive responses, where counseling, parental engagement, and moral education were emphasized over punitive measures. The third theme revealed the emotional strain and institutional challenges faced by principals, underscoring burnout, lack of counseling resources, and the need for systemic support. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while school leaders recognize and actively manage various forms of student misconduct, their efforts are constrained by structural and emotional pressures. The study calls for policy-level interventions to enhance psychological, administrative, and parental support systems in schools.

The Rise of Spontaneous Vigilante Terrorism in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects

2026-01-02T10:24:09+00:00

This paper looks at the alarming trend of spontaneous vigilante terrorism in Pakistan, which can be characterized as random, extrajudicial violence by individuals or mobs often leading to death especially in relation to the controversial blasphemy laws that are enforced in the country. Through a mixed-methods research design, the study employs the Constructivist approach to suggest that the phenomenon is largely based on a strong religious extremist tradition and lack of tolerance, augmented by historical incidences such as the Islamization of Zia-ul-Haq and consistent sectarian divisions instigated by regional interests. Quantitative information puts into light the aggregate of blasphemy-related violence especially in Punjab with Umerkot Incident being a case in point of the failure of law and order and the support of state actors. The conclusion of the paper recommends short-term and long-term counter-extremism measures such as democratic religious forums, reforming of curriculum and successful implementation of justice to curb regression of society.

From Awareness to Action: Influence of Agricultural FM Radio Broadcasts on Innovation Adoption among Farmers

2026-01-02T10:34:54+00:00

The study examines how radio serves as a main medium for diffusing agricultural innovations among farmers of the selected two districts. The research focused on the role of radio programs in influencing farmers’ awareness, knowledge, and their adoption of modern farming techniques. A quantitative survey was conducted among 260 farmers. One hundred thirty from each of the Mansehra and Multan districts were selected randomly through a triangulation approach that combined stratified and purposive sampling research techniques. The findings further revealed that selected farmers who regularly listened to agricultural radio programs were more likely to adopt innovative farming methods compared to those who did not listen to FM agriculture-based programs. However, the study found that FM radio programs effectively promote the adoption of innovation. Listeners do not consistently seek further confirmation and validation before implementing new research techniques. The results further indicate that radio plays a significant and vital role in shaping and reshaping farmers’ attitudes and decision-making regarding the adoption of new agricultural practices in both districts.