Journals of Forman Christian College
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The COVID-19 Pandemic and Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping in Pakistan: New Insights for Strategic Management and Policy Implications
Full text linkThis study aimed to estimate the urban social vulnerability of Islamabad, considering twenty-one climatic, social, economic, and institutional indicators as drivers of vulnerability, with a particular emphasis on the COVID-19 outbreak. This study conducted a survey using a structured questionnaire to measure vulnerability. The sample size for this study was 438 households of 22 urban union councils at random, considering social, demographic, economic, and physical aspects of vulnerability. The results of the principal component analysis showed that union councils of F-Sectors were the least vulnerable, with the lowest vulnerability ranking of UC 25 (F/6) at 362 and the highest vulnerability ranking of Jhangi Saidan, UC-45 at 510. Interestingly, it can be observed that G-Sectors’ average vulnerability ranking of 500 is higher than F-Sectors and I-Sectors of Islamabad. Densely populated areas of G-sectors and I-sectors had higher vulnerability to high COVID-19 exposure. The study concludes that the highly dense population and composition, lack of healthcare provision in the slums, and low income have been the main reasons for the COVID-19 outbreak in urban areas. Healthcare facilities can reduce the vulnerability of those marginalized segments of society who cannot afford to cope with the changing climate
The Influence of Socio-economic Status and Cultural Factors on Genderbased Educational Discrimination: A Mediation Analysis: Nazirullah, Jan Alam and Asif Mahmood
Full text linkThe research paper investigated how socio-economic status, and cultural factors contribute to gender-based educational discrimination among female university students. A quantitative survey research design was used to explain the influence of socio-economic status, and cultural factors on gender-based educational discrimination. The population of the study was female students of Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST). A purposive sampling technique was applied, and a sample size (n=372) was drawn through G*Power software. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that socio-economic status is negatively associated with gender-based educational discrimination, suggesting that female students from low socio-economic backgrounds experience higher level of discrimination at university level. Furthermore, cultural factors were found to negatively mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and gender-based educational discrimination. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that socioeconomic status significantly influences cultural factors, which in turn affect the level of gender-based educational discrimination experienced by female university students.
Corruption and Economic Growth: An Asymmetric Relationship Across Economic Levels and Legal Origins
Full text linkThe purpose of the study is threefold. First, it evaluates the direction and magnitude of corruption on economic growth. Second, it tests the hypothesis of asymmetric impact in developed and developing economies. Third, it investigates the corruption-growth relationship across Legal-Origins. The research employs annual data for 152 countries over the period 2012-2021 and utilizes three-panel regression approaches: pooled OLS, cross-sectional fixed effect, and random effect. Given the empirical statistical results of the F-test, Breusch-Pagan LM test, and Hausman test, the fixed effect approach is superior. The results reveal that (1) the overall corruption deteriorates the economic growth, (2) the effect is twice as harmful in developing than in developed economies, and (3) the influence varies across Legal-Origins. Economic growth is adversely affected by Corruption in French and German civil law countries, and it does not affect British common law economies and Scandinavian legal origin. The introduction of non-universality in the corruption-growth linkage presented in the paper has implications in academic and public policy domains
Beyond the Hype: Global Panel Evidence on E-Government and Economic Growth
Full text linkElectronic government, also known as e-government (EGOV), is a concept that has been accepted as central to the reform of public administration. It strengthens transparency and accountability by encouraging the involvement of citizens and the state. Extensive studies show interest in the theoretical organizational benefits, but these studies lack in cost ideals. To address the gap, current research is carried out to investigate the advancement of EGOV and its impact on economic growth. This study is executed through panel data analysis of 127 countries, from 2003 to 2024. The study not only focuses on descriptive analysis but apply panel data regression models together with fixed effects regression model. Our findings portray that the formalization of e-government shows an intensifying trend that substantially shows variations among countries, consequently, significant digital divides between regions and income bands. Furthermore, significant uplift trends in national income have been observed through e-participation and telecommunication infrastructure. Our study also suggests that human capital has a positive relation with growth effects, given the high institutional quality. Inclusively, the outcome of the study impels that investment in digital capabilities can also have a potential dual impact on economic growth and transformation, subject to better institutions. Within the reference period of analysis, Pakistan showed a meaningful performance in digital indices, even though it remained behind a large number of countries in the world
Affiliate Stigma, Family Resilience, and Life Satisfaction in Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disability: Sadia Ramzan, Farah Malik and Maida Qureshi
Full text linkCaregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities often face unique emotional, social, and psychological challenges. This research aimed to evaluate affiliate stigma, family resilience, and life satisfaction in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant relationship between these variables. A quantitative correlational research design was used. A non-probability purposive sampling strategy was employed to recruit a sample of 109 mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. The respondents had a mean age of 30.76 years (S.D. = 7.23). Data was collected from the Rising Sun Institute and the Child Psychiatry and Family Department of Mayo Hospital, where the children with intellectual disabilities were receiving care. The study utilized the Affiliate Stigma Scale, the Family Resilience Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and a personal information sheet to assess the research variables. The findings of the study revealed that affiliate stigma had a significant negative correlation with family resilience and life satisfaction. Family resilience had a significant positive correlation with life satisfaction. It was also a significant positive predictor of life satisfaction, whereas affiliate stigma was a significant negative predictor of life satisfaction. There were significant mean differences across educational groups on affiliate stigma, family resilience, and life satisfaction in mothers. The study findings imply that there is a dire need to educate people about the impact of stigmatization on the families of children with intellectual disabilities.
Early Maladaptive Schemas, Emotional Regulation and Symptom Dimensions of Patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Lahore
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The focus of the present study was to examine the relationship between early maladaptive schemas, emotional regulation strategies, and obsessive and compulsive symptom dimensions among patients of OCD in Lahore. With the administration of a cross-sectional research design, 80 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (Women=36; Men=44) were selected through non-probability purposive sampling and within the age range of 18-55 years. The tools for assessment included the Demographic Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire Short Form (Young et al., 2003), Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003), and the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptom Checklist (Jabeen, 2008). Findings of the present study indicated that among early maladaptive schemas, some of the maladaptive schemas, e.g., Emotional Deprivation, Defectiveness/shame, Dependence/incompetence, Vulnerability to harm/illness, Undeveloped self, Subjugation, Entitlement/Grandiosity, and Approval-seeking had a significant relationship with obsessive symptom dimensions. Gender differences were reported in the six schema dimensions, i.e., Approval-seeking, Entitlement/Grandiosity, Mistrust/Abuse, Failure to achieve, Social Isolation, and Self-sacrifice, whereas Female OCD patients scored higher in the expressive suppression strategy of emotional regulation. Some of the similar schemas showed a significant positive prediction of obsessive symptoms among OCD patients.
Effect of Portfolio Turnover on Fund Performance: Evidence from Pakistan Shariah-compliant Equity Funds
Full text linkThis study examines the impact of portfolio turnover on the performance of Shariah-compliant equity funds in Pakistan, considering five additional explanatory variables: expense ratio, age, size, risk, and fund flow. Panel data regression is applied to a sample of 10 Shariah-compliant equity funds from July 2014 to June 2018, with the appropriate model selected using Hausman and redundant fixed effects tests. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between portfolio turnover and fund performance, suggesting that higher turnover is associated with better returns. Additionally, risk and fund flow are found to positively influence fund performance, indicating that higher-risk investments and larger fund inflows contribute to enhanced returns. This study offers a unique contribution by analyzing the turnover-performance relationship specifically within the context of Shariah-compliant equity funds. Future research could extend this analysis to other types of Shariah-compliant funds in Pakistan, offering a broader understanding of the dynamics influencing fund performance
Urdu Literature as Social History: Gender, Reform, and Resistance in the Works of Ismat Chughtai and Rasheed Jehan
Full text linkThis research article explores the role of Urdu literature in shaping the social and political consciousness of 20thcentury Indian society, approaching literature as a site of social history and social transformation. While the primary focus is on the socio-historical context, reception, and legacy of literary figures, the study also engages selectively with key short stories by Rasheed Jehan and Ismat Chughtai to illustrate how their works challenge patriarchal norms, articulate feminist perspectives, and respond to colonial social conditions. Drawing on biographical accounts, critical commentaries, and thematic readings of selected stories, the research highlights how literature served as both a mirror of lived realities and a motor of ideological change. Figures such as Deputy Nazir Ahmad and Premchand are situated as reformist predecessors, while Jehan and Chughtai represent more radical, feminist interventions. By combining historical context with interpretive analysis, the article contributes to the growing field of social history through literature, underscoring Urdu literature’s enduring relevance as an archive of resistance, reform, and modernity in colonial South Asia.
Looking Back to Move Forward: What Life Lessons Individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) would convey to their Younger Selves - A Qualitative Study
Full text linkEnd Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a life-long, chronic condition whereby patients need persistent and prolonged care, including hemodialysis to survive. The current qualitative study investigated what lessons people with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) would impart to their younger selves employing a novel approach, the think-aloud technique, which involved the use of photographs. The sample included the patients with the End-Stage renal disease (N=10) undergoing hemodialysis treatment who were recruited from different hospitals and dialysis centers located in Lahore, including both public and private sectors. They were interviewed using in-depth probing and the creative approach of the Photograph Prompted Think-Aloud was utilized, whereby participants carried a photograph of themselves from their early years and were asked to reflect on it and speak to their younger selves. Thematic analysis of the transcripts (inductively) identified five broad themes, including learning from past mistakes, cultivating emotional control and self-discipline, recognizing the value of time and living a meaningful life, appreciating real-life connections, and learning about spiritual and existential realities. Based on the lived experiences of the participants, these life lessons serve as a valuable piece of advice for other people living with similar chronic illnesses
Determinants of Urban Warming and Ecological Footprints in Lahore: Public Perceptions and Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Full text linkRapid urbanization, land-use transformation, and climate change have increased environmental challenges in rapidly growing South Asian cities. This study, based in Lahore, Pakistan, examines the determinants of urban warming and ecological footprints, explores public perceptions, and suggests strategies for advancing urban sustainability. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, integrating geospatial analysis with socio-perceptual survey data. Multi-temporal Landsat 5 (2000–2010) and Landsat 8 (2020–2025) satellite imagery was analyzed to assess spatiotemporal variations in Land Surface Temperature (LST), Land Use (LU), and ecological footprints. The Radiative Transfer Method (RTM) was employed for LST retrieval, while indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) were used to evaluate vegetation cover and urban expansion. A structured questionnaire survey further examined residents’ perception, awareness, and behavioral patterns. It collected adaptive responses related to urban cooling and heating, as well as ecological footprints, including energy consumption and transportation practices. The findings indicate a substantial rise in mean LST from 18.87°C in 2000 to 25.69°C in 2025, an increase of 6.82°C over two decades, with Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity (SUHII) ranging between 3.99°C and 5.07°C. While 94.2% of respondents recognized rising urban temperatures, only 8.7% demonstrated a high understanding of the concept of ecological footprints. Respondents identified LU change, deforestation, vehicular emissions, industrialization, and unregulated urbanization as major contributors to thermal increase. Despite growing concern, the adoption of sustainable practices remains limited due to low awareness and institutional capacity. The study highlights the need for green infrastructure, energy-efficient technologies, and climate-responsive urban planning to mitigate urban heat and reduce ecological footprints. Strengthening institutional trust and enhancing public participation are vital pathways for transforming Lahore into a low-footprint, climate-resilient, and sustainable city.