Cyber Laws and Cyber Security in Pakistan: Myths and Realities
The evolving nature of warfare is characterized by technology's ability to adapt and attack enemies in different ways at different times and places. This adaptability also extends to the realm of cybersecurity, where billions of dollars are illegally transferred, data breaches occur, national secrets are compromised, and critical public infrastructure is hacked. Pakistan, like many other countries, is not immune to these challenges. Pakistan recently experienced a massive cyberattack against a major institutional website, resulting in a successful intrusion by hackers. In response, Pakistani lawmakers introduced a cyber law, but at the time the scale and complexity of these new threats were not fully recognized. To protect itself from such risks, it is important for Pakistan to stay vigilant
and continuously adapt its cybersecurity measures to meet the evolving cyber threat landscape.
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Cybersecurity, Warfare Adaptation, Global Threat, Illicit Transfers, Cyber- Attacks, Cyber Laws, CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team)
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(1) Muhammad Tahir
Assistant Professor, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
(2) Tahreem Farrukh
Assistant Professor, School of Law, Karachi University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
(3) Muhammad Shahid
MA, LLM, Advocate High Court, Pakistan.
"For Murder, though have no Tongue, will Speak", Hamlet Speaks for the Contemporary Problems around the Word
People from different countries reshape and revise Hamlet to suit their situations and alter their personalities accordingly. Hamlet highlights issues in political, moral, social and cultural spheres of a country. Shakespeare’s Hamlet attracts the minds of readers to the extent that they establish a link with their unconscious minds; thus resulting in an empathetic connection between readers, characters and the adapters. This paper offers an analysis of the different adaptations of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in some countries. It delineates the link between Hamlet and its adaptations, particularly Haider –an Indian adaptation. This paper compares Hamlet and Haider and draws parallels between the two in order to highlight and address contemporary problems especially that of conflict between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. This paper talks about Haider that successfully created the desired impact which should be the purpose of an adapted play. Essentially qualitative in nature, this paper uses the lens of Linda Hutcheon –Theory of Adaptation- to conduct textual analysis.
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Hamlet, adaptations, appropriations, Revenge Issues, Globalization, Universal Uniformity and Contemporary Problems.
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(1) Muhammad Muazzam Sharif
Lecturer, Department of English, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Zubair Shafiq
Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Umtul Ayesha
Lecturer, City District Government Degree College for Women, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
Assessing the Impact of Climate-Smart Adaptation Strategies on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Punjab amidst Climate Change
This article examines climate-smart adaptation strategies and their impact on agriculture and food security in Punjab's Chakwal District, Pakistan. The study assesses climate change effects, evaluates adaptation methods, and identifies challenges for scaling up. Results show climate change is harming agricultural production, affecting weather patterns and reducing yields. Though climate-smart strategies are implemented, their effectiveness needs improvement. Lack of farmer awareness hinders scaling up. Findings stress raising awareness, providing support, and strengthening institutions for adoption. Policymakers, NGOs, and stakeholders can benefit from the study's implications. Efforts should focus on increasing awareness, support, and institutional strengthening for effective implementation. The survey provides insights for future interventions and policies to boost climate resilience in the region.
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Climate-smart Adaptation Strategies, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security, Climate Change Impacts
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(1) Um-e-Ammara Kousar
Ph. D. Scholar, Department of Economics & Agri-Economics, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Hafsah Batool
Lecturer/Head of International Resource Centre (DFDI), Department of Economics, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Rubab Aslam Malik
Visitor in Economics, University of Education Lahore (Vehari Campus), Vehari, Punjab, Pakistan.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Social Context Cannabis Scale
The objective of the present study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the SCCS among individuals from various cultural backgrounds. A study was conducted with a sample size of 300 individuals, whose ages ranged from 18 to over 40 years old, and who had attained at least a secondary school education level. A multi-step process was utilized to conduct the study, which aimed to ensure that the current scale is culturally appropriate for the target population. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated a significant correlation between the items, as evidenced by the high factor loadings and communalities. These findings suggest that the items share a common variance across all three factors. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that the Urdu- translated version of SCCS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing cannabis use in various socio- cultural contexts.
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Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validation, Social Context
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(1) Safia Ashfaq
PhD Scholar, Department of Psychology, International Islamic University Islamabad. Pakistan.
(2) Kehkashan Arouj
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, International Islamic University Islamabad. Pakistan.
Beyond the Stage: Exploring the Transmedial Adaptation of "to be or not to be" in Hamlet on Rooftop
Comics blend linguistic resources and semiotic signs to represent different ideas. The rise of online platforms and the ease of digital distribution has made the production and consumption of comics a common phenomenon. In storytelling, their significance is acknowledged as an effective source of visual representation of sequential art. The present study underpins different techniques and strategies employed by Eisner for blending art and literary discourse to create an adapted comic version of "Hamlet"—named "Hamlet on a Rooftop". This comic is set in urban settings, in which Eisner highlights the themes of revenge, inner conflicts, family politics, etc. Focusing on the comical adaptation of Hamlet's famous soliloquy "to be, or not to be", the current study delineates how Eisner has used visual icons, facial expressions, colours, lettering, etc., to tell a visual narrative. The study also explores how the use of sequential visual style in "Hamlet on a Rooftop" gives the narrative flow to this comic. The study's findings enlist different techniques that work as a tool kit for comic writers to represent different ideas in an exciting fashion with the help of multimodal semiotic signs.
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Comics, Hamlet on Rooftop, Transmedial Adaptation, Semiotic Signs
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(1) Moazzam Ali Malik
Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Irfan
MPhil Scholar, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Muhammad Umair Ayub
MPhil Scholar, Department of English, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
Coke Studio: Adaptation of Folk Songs for Bridging Cultural and Generation Gap
Coke Studio (CS, Pakistan) showcases a fusion of various musical genres, from traditional classical, folk, Sufi, ghazal, and qawwali to contemporary hip-hop, rock, and pop. This study explores the adaptation of folk songs within CS through Cardwell's 'meta-text' theory (2002), contending that the essence of the original text is retained in subsequent adaptations. Additionally, it examines the rhizome-like nature of these adaptations. Employing multimodality, the study analyzes folk songs from Coke Studio Season 10, utilizing auditory, visual, and spatial elements to create a cohesive artifact with broad semiotic appeal in today's globalized world. CS's immense popularity underscores its ability to balance aesthetic concerns with technological advancements. Furthermore, the study positions CS as a platform for rediscovering, reforming, and sustaining cultural heritage, catering to the new generation. By blending traditional folk with rock elements and appealing to audiences of all ages, CS bridges the gap between generations, fostering a 'third space' music as proposed by Bhabha (1994). This music is now intertwined with contemporary youth culture, contributing to the emergence of a new national identity. Thus, the adaptations of folk songs in Coke Studio serve as a contemporary reinterpretation of history and cultural heritage, connecting youth with their past while grounding them in the present.
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Coke Studio, Folk Songs, Adaptations, Multi-modality, Third Space
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(1) Ayesha Saddiqa
Assistant Professor, Government Graduate College for Women, Samanabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Fatima Sajid Chauhan
College for Women, Samanabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Adeen Asif
O Level (International General Certificate of Secondary Education-IGCSE) Scholar, L'ecole Mondiale School, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Navigating Identity Negotiation and Cultural Adaptation in 'American Fever': A Critical Discourse Study
The current study aims to analyze the discursive construction and representation of the processes of cultural adaptation and identity negotiation among Pakistani students in America in Dur e Aziz Amna's novel American Fever (2022). The study utilizes Homi K. Bhabha’s concepts of hybridity and mimicry (1994) to unveil students' strategies during their stay in America. Fairclough’s three-dimensional model (1992) was also employed to examine linguistic choices underpinning power and resisting strategies used by the protagonist to establish her position in society. The findings indicate that Pakistani students adapt to American norms, contrasting their native culture. Power dynamics play a significant role in identity negotiation, as Islamophobia and the Pakistani identity of the students affect their power position in American society. The author has used evocative language, metaphors, intertextual references, and code-switching to render the complexities of cultural adaptation and manifest her resistance to prevailing ideologies, including Islamophobia and gender norms.
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Cultural Adaptation, Power Dynamics, Diaspora, Identity Negotiation
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(1) Abdullah Yousaf
MPhil Scholar, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Umara Shaheen
Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Role of Urban Parks in Climate Change Adaptation: The Fundamentals for Establishment of Indicators with a special focus on Punjab, Pakistan
Urban parks are the essential city elements which provide eco benefits in the current time of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Climate change produced due to such human activities generated significant impacts. Climate change is a major phenomenon observed in the environment at global level. Pakistan is among the top ten countries who are facing climate change at the fastest rate. Indicators are the parameters which can measure the climate change rate and adaptation level of urban parks for appropriate monitoring and outcomes. Certain factors and indicators are required to be identified and a framework should be established to evaluate the urban parks. A system is required to be developed to assign the weightages to the established indicators for evaluation and monitoring of urban parks to increase their effectiveness and functionality. Urban parks can provide sustainable adaptation if monitored and evaluated successfully.
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Urban Parks, Climate Change, Adaptation, Indicators
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(1) Bazla Manzoor
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, University of Management and Technology Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Saima Gulzar
Professor-Chairperson, Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, University of Management and Technology Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Muhammad Aamir Basheer
Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Smart Mobility and Logistics, Department of Architecture and City Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.