The rapid pace of technological advancement has redefined the global landscape for intellectual property rights (IPR), necessitating an evolution in international trade law to address the complexities of the digital age. This article examines the transformation of IPR frameworks within international trade, focusing on how technology-driven innovations—such as digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-centric economies—pose both opportunities and challenges for IPR in a global context. By analyzing the historical development of IPR in trade agreements, particularly the role of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, the study highlights areas where existing frameworks have succeeded and where they struggle to keep pace with new technological realities. Using a qualitative research design, the study examines key legal adaptations in digital IP protections, cross-border data rights, and patent frameworks, alongside case studies of the EU, U.S., and developing countries. The findings suggest that while recent trade agreements attempt to address digital IPR, a balanced, harmonized approach is crucial to support innovation and equitable access. This research underscores the need for adaptable IPR policies within international trade law that respond to ongoing technological evolution while safeguarding equitable economic growth.

Keywords: Copyright, Enforcement, Innovation, Legislation, Patents, Technology, Trade Agreements.

The main objective of this study is to analyze four different currencies-based exchange rates by considering major trading partners of Pakistan and evaluate whether Pakistani Rupee (PKR) as a potential candidate for international settlement remain more stable or not. Since the exchange rate instability and large depreciation in terms of United States Dollar (USD) has instigated the policy makers to explore the ways to reduce the dependence over USD for all kinds of international settlement. This study has analyzed more than fifty years monthly data ranging from January 1970 to December 2023 considering four currencies USD, PKR, CHY (Chinese Youan) and SDR (Special Drawing Rights) based exchange rates. Initially GARCH(1,1) models are applied to measure the exchange rate risk and instability than panel data fixed effect models are estimated to evaluate various models including exchange rate volatility, trade balance, export and imports functions, international liquidity and international reserves. The main findings of this study appear to affirm our objective that it is beneficial for Pakistan to trade with major trade-partners in their respective domestic currency and ensure long term exchange rate stability with low risk. Comparatively Chinese Yuan may be more suitable if vehicle currency is indispensable especially in case if target is to accumulate both the international reserves and international liquidity. Consequently, the policy maker should design those policies that may encourage the scope of domestic currency use at least when Pakistan is trading with major trade-partners.

Keywords: Exchange Rate Volatility, International Trade, Pakistan’ Trade Partners, Panel Data Fixed Effect Estimation, Developed and Developing Countries.

The present study was designed to investigate the impact of decision fatigue on workplace well-being focusing on the role of pragmatic prospection as a mediator and organizational culture as a moderator. By using a purposive sampling technique 373 executives from Attock, Hazro, Wah, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad were studied. Decision Fatigue Scale (Hickman et al., 2018), Pragmatic Prospection Questionnaire (Ruscio et al., 2023), Organizational Culture Index (Wallach, 1983), and Short Smith Well-being Questionnaire (Smith & Smith, 2017) were utilized. The findings of the study revealed that decision fatigue has a negative relation with pragmatic prospection while having a positive relationship with workplace well-being and organizational culture. Mediation revealed that pragmatic prospection mediates the relationship between decision fatigue and well-being. Moreover, organizational culture moderates this relationship, with a work atmosphere that reduces the negative impact of decision fatigue. The findings highlight the significance of an organizational culture that provides a work environment with good resilience and well-being. The findings also provide practical suggestions for providing better workplace performance and well-being.

Keywords: Moderated-Mediation, Pragmatic Prospection, Organizational Culture, Decision Fatigue, Workplace Well-being.

Historicity of a city is mainly a network of relationships between the city and its people (residents, visitors, business people, potential investors, local entities). The human factor, in the process of protecting the historical heritage of the city, concerns "people of the city", politicians and technocrats, also residents, business people, and visitors, whose actions, views, beliefs, perceptions influence its planning and implementation. In order to survey the consciousness of historicity of the city of Trikala, Greece, and its historic district "Varoussi", a questionnaire was addressed a random sample of residents, business people and visitors of the city.

Keywords: Historicity of the City; Historic Center Preservation, Historic Preservation, Consciousness of Historicity, Heritage Tourism, Living in a Historic Center, Opinion Survey, Fieldwork, Applied Research.

It has been proposed that psychological therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour therapy (CBT) need adaptation to increase its effectiveness for patients from collectivistic cultures, as currently CBT is underpinned by individualistic values. Due to the ethnocentric nature of these psychosocial therapies, which were created based on Western cultural norms, many observers have noted that CBT in its typical form is inappropriate for people from non-Western backgrounds (Naeem et al., 2023). In the current study BCBT was selected for depression treatment. BCBT is the compression of CBT material and reduction of the average 12-20 sessions into four to eight sessions (Cully et al., 2020). Results from earlier studies indicated that CBT can be adapted for collectivistic culture patients by using steps for adapting. Instead of only translating therapy manuals, the adaption process concentrated on three main areas of therapy. These consist of (1) preparation for therapy and knowledge of relevant cultural issues, (2) assessment process and engagement, and (3) various adjustments in therapy (Naeem et al., 2019). Additionally, this study indicated that patients from traditional cultures could benefit from an effective adaptation of BCBT. However, this is a new field in psychotherapy, and more research is needed to test modified psychological interventions and improve the approach.

Keywords: Brief Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (BCBT), Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Cultural Adaptation, Young Adults.

Women status in Pakistan has reoccupied scholars’ attention ever since the discourse on enlightened moderation started during Musharaf era. This study explores this issue with the intention to dissect its true nature over the course of history. Both pre-partition and post-partition eras has been explored at length. Pakhtun society is considered as one of the most traditional societies in Pakistan, hence, it was taken as a case study to explore this issue. Owing to the nature of study, post-positivist approach guided the entire research work. The study is qualitative in nature. Primary data was acquired through in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders, supplemented by biographies and legal texts. Secondary data was collected from various scholarly sources like books, journal articles, magazines, reports of national and international bodies. Researcher used thematic analysis and comparative analysis techniques to extract findings from collected data. There has been widespread discourse on women status in Pakistan between feminists, reformists and traditionalists or orthodox. Each have certain viewpoints regarding the ultimate roles of women in society, dynamics behind their problems, role of religion in this context and the prospects for women in Pakistan. There are different extremes and means in this regard. Feminists being at the end of the spectrum and traditionalists at the other. Both blaming one another for various women issues. In this regard dissection the trajectory of women status in Pakistan attains significance. This research highlighted the women status in historical perspective. Tracing the origins of various issues regarding women and the actual codes of conduct like Hammurabi code which demarcated a line of distinction between men and women. The research showed that several of the issues regarding women status existed even before the advent of Islam, hence proving some of the arguments of feminists as hollow and rhetorical. However, there is ample evidence to suggest the role of patriarchy and the various systems that helped sustain patriarchy and ultimately relegated women to poor status in both India and Pakistan. In this regard, historically existing Hindu customs in India, approach of Muslim rulers to towards Hindu subjects and the exploitation of colonial masters need exploration. Patriarchy found refuge in misinterpretations of religion either voluntarily or involuntarily. These dynamics played significant role in sustaining traditional norms and values which negatively influenced women status in Pakhtun society.

Keywords: Decolonization, Women’s Status, Pakhtun Society, Patriachy, Pashtunwali, Women in Islam.

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between social media addiction, cyber stalking and loneliness in college students. The data was collected from Government colleges of Lahore (N=150, M=75, F=75) with age range 17-21 years (M=17.20, SD= 1.02) by using convenient sampling strategy. Social Media Addiction Scale Student Form (SMAS-SF), Cyber Obsessional Pursuit Questionnaire (COP) and UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 were used to collect data from the participants. Results showed that social media addiction was positively correlated with cyber stalking and cyber stalking was positively correlated with loneliness in college students. Neither social media addiction nor cyber stalking predicted loneliness in college students. Results from the present study revealed that boys were more Cyber Stalked than boys and girls experienced more Loneliness than boys. This study will provide an understanding about the misuse of social media and also provide awareness to the parents about the side effects of the social media overuse.

Keywords: Social Media Addiction, Cyber Stalking, Loneliness.

The Aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between Premenstrual Syndrome, Psychological Distress, Social Disconnectedness and Self-control, among University students. A total 300 female students were selected from different universities of Lahore through purposive sampling. Person Product Moment correlation was applied to check the relationship between study variables, while employing IBM SPSS for analysis. The standardized assessment tools were measured by administering Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) by Steiner et al. (2011) Psychological Distress Scale by Kessler Mroczek (1992), Social Disconnectedness Scale developed by Cornwell (2009) and the Self-control Scale by Tangney et al. (2004). A demographic sheet was also used covering age, educational level, family system, birth order, reaction towards menses, days of menses, and mood disturbance. The results supported the hypothesis. The findings indicate that Premenstrual Syndrome has significant moderately positive correlation with psychological distress and self-control, whereas a significant negative correlation was found between Premenstrual Syndrome and Social Disconnectedness.

Keywords: Premenstrual Syndrome, Psychological Distress, Social Disconnectedness, Self-control, Students.

Menstruation is a natural biological process for females which has relevant impact on several dimensions of female’s health. Menstrual process is linked with significant physiological and psychological transitions among females directly affecting wellbeing and quality of life. Present study aimed to explore the attitudes of young females towards menstruation, identify commonly experienced symptoms of menstrual distress and association of these two variables with psychological wellbeing. Cross sectional research design was used to study 490 young females selected through convenience sampling method from Lahore. The data was recorded on detailed demographic questionnaire, menstrual distress questionnaire, menstruation attitude questionnaire and psychological well being scale. These measures recorded personal information of the participants and basic information about menstrual cycles and health, symptoms of menstrual distress, various attitudes towards menstruation and psychological wellbeing of the participants respectively. The data were gathered from academic institutes and health facilities in Lahore. The mean scores on dimensions of MAQ ranged from 3.99 to 6.02 and on psychological wellbeing from 4.71 to 6.59. Swelling, cramps, irritability and nausea were the most reported menstrual distress symptoms. Subdimensions of menstrual attitudes, menstrual distress and psychological wellbeing revealed a mix yet interesting trend of associations. Menstrual attitudes and menstrual distress are significant correlates of psychological wellbeing of young females.

Keywords: Menstrual Distress, Attitudes, Females, Wellbeing, Menstrual Health.

The mechanism by which influence of transformational leadership is exerted on employee psychological well-being (specifically job satisfaction) directly and through self-efficacy is vague as the few studies conducted majorly in health-settings and developed countries, showed mixed results, therefore an expanded understanding is still required. Moreover, how the phenomenon takes place in developing country and in a non-health setting specifically education sector, is yet to be explored. The present study intends fill this gap by using mixed methods research and developing context specific questionnaire. Thus, offering methodological expansion. In the first qualitative phase this relationship was investigated with some VCs and Directors/ leaders and their respective faculty members/ sub-ordinates (thirteen interviewees), and in second quantitative phase the proposed relationships were tested with sample of 233 faculty members belonging to different higher educational institutes. It was found that there was direct positive relationship between transformational leadership, self-efficacy and job satisfaction. However, self-efficacy did not mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction. The interviewees suggested that other variable such as positive or supportive work environment or fulfillment of expectations of employees may be significant mediators in this phenomenon. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Keywords: Transformational Leadership; Self-Efficacy; Job Satisfaction; Higher Education Sector.

Venture resilience—the capacity of a business to survive, adapt, and grow in adversity—is increasingly essential in uncertain institutional and economic contexts. This study develops and tests a model in which entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationships between three antecedents—digital tool adaptation, financial literacy, and perceived institutional voids—and venture resilience. Drawing from the Resource-Based View and Social Cognitive Theory, we hypothesize that digital tool adaptation and financial literacy have positive effects on venture resilience through increasing self-efficacy, while perceived institutional voids exert a negative effect, which can also be mediated through reduced self-efficacy. We propose a quantitative design using survey data from necessity and growth-oriented entrepreneurs in low to middle income countries. Analyses will include measurement validation, mediation tests, and regression analysis. Implications for policy and interventions in contexts with institutional gaps are discussed.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Self Efficacy, Digitization, Financial Literacy.