The Lighthouse Journal of Social Sciences

From Structural Reform to Local Legitimacy: Evaluating the FATA-KP Merger in Khyber District

Hemayle Afridi — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The 2018 merger of Pakistan's erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marked a significant constitutional reform aimed at extending political representation, legal rights and institutional governance to historically marginalized regions. This article examines the post-merger experience of Khyber District through the lens of Conflict Transformation Theory, focusing on education and security as key domains of reform. Employing a qualitative case study design, the research draws on survey responses (n=30), semi-structured interviews (n=21) and policy analysis to assess structural, relational and cultural dimensions of integration. Local legitimacy is operationalized in this study through residents' perceptions of whether post-merger institutions are trustworthy, accessible and effective in addressing education, security and governance needs. The data were analyzed thematically with interview and survey responses triangulated against policy documents to identify implementation gaps and uneven resource distribution, community participation and state-society trust. The findings indicate that while institutional reforms such as the extension of provincial administration, reconstruction of schools and integration of policing structures represent significant structural progress, relational trust in state institutions remains limited. Persistent challenges include inadequate education infrastructure, gender disparities, perceived police inefficiency and continued reliance on traditional dispute resolution mechanisms. The study argues that sustainable integration requires moving beyond formal institutional change toward trust-building, accountability and culturally responsive governance. By situating district-level experiences within a conflict transformation framework, the article contributes to broader debates on post-conflict state-building and governance reform in fragile contexts.

Student–GAI Interaction and Learning Outcomes: A Serial Mediation Model of Self-Efficacy and Cognitive Engagement

Gul Rukh, Maryub Shahab, Sobia Suleman — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the impact of student interaction with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools on academic achievement within the higher education sector of Pakistan. Utilizing a two-wave time-lagged research design, data were collected from 427 undergraduate students across public and private universities in the Islamabad Capital Territory. Structural equation and bootstrapped mediation analyses reveal that student–GAI interaction exerts a positive effect on academic performance (β = 0.154, p < 0.001). This relationship is significantly explained by a sequential mediation pathway: interactions with GAI cultivate academic self-efficacy, which subsequently enhances cognitive engagement, ultimately driving higher learning success. The final structural model accounts for 31.5% of the total variance in student cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). These insights indicate that the primary educational utility of GAI stems from its psychological and behavioral scaffolding rather than basic task automation. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for institutional policymakers and educators to design pedagogical frameworks that foster critical AI literacy while bridging digital equity access gaps.

From Resistance to Readiness: How Effective Communication Drives Organizational Change

Laiba Rehman, Syed Zulkifal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Organizational transformation has become a defining feature of modern management, driven by changing market conditions, workforce diversification, and rapid technological advancement. Despite its importance, a large percentage of change projects still fail, and poor communication is often cited as a major contributing factor. This study systematically reviews the empirical and conceptual literature to examine how communication influences the success or failure of organizational change efforts. Using a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review methodology, 40 empirical and conceptual studies from multiple disciplines were examined. The review synthesizes evidence on how communication channels, timing, clarity, transparency, and managerial credibility shape employee attitudes and change outcomes. The results show that timely, transparent, two-way communication improves acceptance, engagement, and change readiness, whereas poor, inconsistent, or delayed communication increases employee resistance, uncertainty, and mistrust. The review also finds that face-to-face communication remains essential for building trust and emotional commitment, even as digital tools improve the efficiency and reach of organizational communication. Finally, the analysis identifies key gaps in the literature, including a lack of longitudinal studies, limited attention to digital and hybrid communication environments, and an overemphasis on individual-level outcomes at the expense of organizational-level results. By integrating theoretical and empirical findings, this study contributes to the body of knowledge on change management and offers practical guidance for managers seeking to strengthen communication effectiveness during organizational transformation.

E-Governance Without Inclusion: Are Digital Employment Policies Reaching Educated Women in Erstwhile FATA?

Ameer Taimur, Zafar Abbas, Syed Fakharuddin Shah — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The article aims to examine whether digital employment policies and e-governance initiatives are effectively reaching educated women in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. Based on a mixed-methods case study of seven previous FATA districts, the research results show that there is weak awareness of government digital employment initiatives, the distribution of access to useful digital tools is uneven, and digital skills are still weak among educated women. The socio-cultural norms and the household control of technology also limit the participation of women in online work. These results demonstrate a trend of e-governance without inclusion, in which national policy commitments to digital inclusion and gender equality are failing to be translated into actual opportunities for women in the erstwhile FATA. This article finds that despite the expansion of digital governance initiatives, many educated women face challenges related to limited digital literacy, inadequate internet infrastructure, socio-cultural restrictions, and insufficient policy outreach.

Life between Two Worlds: Social-Cultural Experiences of Forced Migrants in Host Communities and Native Lands

Yaqoob Khan, Zia Ullah, Hazrat Ilyas — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Forced migration has become one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges globally, with millions displaced annually due to armed conflict, political instability, terrorism, and environmental crises. Displacement reshapes migrants' social mobility in dual ways: downward mobility through loss of property, livelihood, and social status, and upward mobility through access to new social and economic resources in host communities. This study examines the social experiences of forced migrants within host communities, their emotional, social, and cultural attachment to their native land, and the broader impact of forced migration on social mobility. A quantitative research design was adopted, with primary data collected from 250 respondents using stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing cross-tabulation (contingency table) analysis and Chi-square tests to examine relationships between forced migration, social mobility, and related variables. The study was conducted in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a region that experienced large-scale internal displacement following military operations and security instability in 2007. Findings indicate that forced migration extends beyond economic survival, significantly shaping social acceptance, experiences of discrimination, access to opportunities, and emotional ties to the homeland. Migrants continuously negotiate between adapting to host communities and preserving strong social and cultural connections to their native areas. These findings underscore the study's central theme, “Life between Two Worlds,” highlighting the multidimensional and often contradictory social realities faced by forced migrants in conflict-affected regions.

Behind the Screen: Examining the Relationship between Artificial Intelligence Dependency and Academic Procrastination among Undergraduate Students

Hamna Qureshi, Misbah Karamat, Zainab Sheikh — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The relationship among undergraduate students' Artificial Intelligence (AI) dependency and academic procrastination is examined in this study. The cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample consisted of 300 undergraduate students (150 males and 150 females) attending colleges and University of Haripur. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The Generative Artificial Intelligence Dependency Scale (Goh, Hartanto, & Majeed, 2025) and the Tuckman Procrastination Scale (Tuckman, 1991) were used to measure AI dependency and academic procrastination, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis and an independent-samples t-test were performed to analyze the data. Results indicated there was no significant difference between the gender and dependency on AI in the undergraduate students. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between AI dependency and academic procrastination, suggesting that the higher the level of AI dependency, the more likely the students were to display procrastinatory behaviors. The results indicate that overusing AI tools could be linked to difficulties in academic task completion and potentially have a negative effect on academic self-regulation. The study concludes that it is essential to support the use of AI technologies in the context of higher education in responsible and balanced ways, while also keeping in mind the possible adverse academic impacts.

A Critical Review of Basic Education Governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Post-18th Constitutional Amendment: A Change Management Perspective

Arshad Malik, Syed Zulkifal — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This review critically analyzes the basic education governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2010 to 2025 through the theoretical lens of Change Management. Based on 9 peer-reviewed articles, government audits, donor reports, and policy documents, the study examines how Khyber Pakhtunkhwa transitioned from centralized control to provincial autonomy. A key "change dilemma" emerges where thorough legislative initiatives such as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “Free Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Act 2017” and the” Education Monitoring Authority” (EMA) confronted institutional resistance. Findings indicate that while Deliverology-driven strategies (top-down accountability system) improved measureable metrics such as teacher attendance and infrastructure monitoring, the human dimension of change was frequently overlooked, constructing recurring policy reversals, including the regularization of ad-hoc teachers following the 2024-2025 protests and persistent struggles to implement the Teacher Induction Policy 2017. The review concludes that sustainable governance requires replacing disciplinary accountability with a supportive professionalization model, institutionalizing change management skills within the bureaucracy to ensure reform continuity across political regimes.

A Comparative Study of Resilience and Rejection Sensitivity among Working and Non-Working Married Women

Palwasha Khan, Misbah Karamat, Iffat Gulab — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The present study aimed to compare the areas of Resilience and Rejection sensitivity in working and non-working married female population of District Haripur and Abbottabad. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional survey design and convenience sampling was used for the selection of the respondents. The total number of married women in the study was 300 that includes 151 employed women and 149 who were not employed, ranging in ages from 25 years to above 50 years. The Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al., 2008) and the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996) were both used in the administration of two well-established psychological instruments. Independent sample t-tests showed that women who were employed were more resilient and less rejection sensitive than those who were not. A Pearson correlation also yielded a significant negative correlation between the two variables with the women who had higher scores on the resilience category having lower scores on the rejection sensitivity category. The results further indicate that there is a protective psychological effect of occupational involvement for married women. The results have further implications for psychologists, counsellors and policymakers as it highlights the need for resilience building interventions and supportive work and family environments to improve the psychological health of married women.

Overcoming Cultural Barriers to Digital Adoption in Pakistan

Muhammad Salman, Nimra Urooj, Naeema Baig — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study examines obstacles to digital adoption in Pakistan through an analysis of cultural norms alongside traditional values and gender inequality issues. The research examines how community beliefs together with family dynamics and socio-cultural expectations restrict the acceptance of new technologies specifically in rural and conservative areas. The reluctance to adopt digital tools creates a substantial barrier that prevents the potential solutions of digital tools from addressing poverty education and economic empowerment issues. The research demonstrates that effective digital literacy programs must combine technological and social elements while maintaining cultural sensitivity in their policy interventions. The research dedicates specific focus to digital access, the divide between genders and proposing solutions to overcome this gender gap. The study ends with suggested recommendations to connect contemporary technology with Pakistan's cultural heritage while developing solutions that will gain wide acceptance among various segments of the population. The research methodology uses both primary data collection methods and secondary data sources. The research gathered primary data by conducting in-depth interviews with key stakeholders such as community leader educators and local influencers and secondary data was obtained from existing literature and reports about digital adoption and cultural studies.

Perfectionism, Anxiety, and Depression among Postgraduate Students and Faculty at a Public University in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obaid Farman, Muskan Farid, Inayat Shah — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Perfectionism is a personality characteristic that underlies anxiety and depression in all diagnostic categories, though there is little empirical research from academic settings in South Asia. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between multidimensional perfectionism, anxiety and depression, as well as comparison of perfectionism between postgraduate students and faculty members of a public university in the northwest region of Pakistan. A total of 163 participants (97 postgraduate students and 66 faculty members) from the University of Malakand were recruited through proportionate stratified random sampling and completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Overall, 38.7% and 42.3% of participants had moderate to severe anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Perfectionism was positively associated with both anxiety (r = .229, 95% CI [.08, .37], p = .003) and depression (r = .188, 95% CI [.04, .33], p = .016); dimension-level and demographic-adjusted regression analyses identified socially prescribed perfectionism as the only dimension with a unique association with both outcomes. Anxiety and depression were strongly correlated (r = .607, 95% CI [.50, .70], p < .001). There was no significant difference between students and faculty on perfectionism, t(161) = 0.54, p = .593, d = 0.09, although students reported significantly higher anxiety (p = .034) and depressive symptoms (p < .001) than faculty. Results confirm the significance of perfectionism, particularly socially prescribed perfectionism, for emotional distress in the collectivistic academic culture and indicate high anxiety–depression comorbidity in a largely unstudied academic group. Practically, the findings support embedding perfectionism-focused cognitive-behavioral components within institution-wide, transdiagnostic mental health services for both students and faculty in Pakistani higher education.