Al-Kashaf

From Tradition to Trend: Reimagining Han and Phulkari Embroidery in Contemporary Fashion

Tuba Shahid — 2025-09-30

Embroidery is a skill passed down from generation to generation in every culture. Due to the influence of Western clothing, younger generations have lost interest in traditional embroidery in their quest for modernity. This paper aims to undertake a comparative analysis of Han embroidery and Phulkari embroidery to protect the heritage of both traditions. In this paper, we will study how the fusion of embroidery patterns of diverse cultures impacts women's apparel. This research will give a historical introduction, the significance and meaning of both cultures, and how they are presented in the twenty-first century compared to the past. This paper discusses the embroidery patterns, techniques, and stitch styles of both Han and Phulkari embroidery. Based on background discussion, this study will explain how several factors play significant roles in influencing women’s clothing with different patterns of contemporary design. An intriguing aspect of research that focuses on the connection between these two distinct worlds is the cultural exchange regarding embroidery patterns. In addition, the study leaves room for the Middle Eastern youth of the future to take pride in their traditional attire and attempt to revive it in a more modern and fashionable

Social Determinants and Indigenous Perspectives in Mental Health Legislations: A Comparative Study of England and Pakistan

Arooba Younas — 2025-09-30

A diversity in the socioeconomic, cultural, and healthcare landscapes exists between Pakistan and England. Within Pakistan, mental health is speckled with stigma alongside poor mental health infrastructure. On the contrary, despite having a better, advanced, and developed healthcare system in place with relatively less stigma afforded to mental health, England’s mental health legislations are not inclusive due to the exclusion of different cultural and indigenous understandings of mental health in the Mental Health Draft Bill (2022) for example. This is a further portrayal of the underrepresentation of alternative understandings of mental health. Despite these disparities, the rationale for adopting a comparative approach is to develop a nuanced understanding of mental health along the lines of the biomedical model and social determinants of mental health by studying the mental health legislative documents of the former colonizer and colonized states. This can further allow one state – Pakistan – to learn from the strengths of the other – England – and in the process help add to the existing broader understanding of mental health.

Sacred Text and Secular Norm: The Right to Privacy in International and Islamic Law

Mariam Sherwani — 2025-09-30

Right to privacy is a fundamental human right enjoyed by actual and legal persons. It helps in establishing their dignity. If compromised, privacy can result in exposure of data that was not supposed to come into public knowledge. This paper claims that Islam has always emphasized on the maintenance of privacy of data and declared the privacy of an individual to be sanctified. Specifically, importance of privacy in the Qur’an and Sunnah has been explained. International law too endorses the preservation and protection of the right to privacy. This paper is an effort to comprehend a compact legal analysis of International Law and Islamic law with respect to right to privacy in order to present a comparative legal analysis. For a case study data privacy and cyber security is discussed for more understanding of the phenomenon of the privacy in different international instruments. Moreover, there are instances where right to privacy appears to be in conflict with security. The author has analyzed balancing the public security and private privacy and has stated number of principles for this purpose. The aim is to explain the manner in which balance can be achieved between privacy and security by the application of the stated principles.

Mobile Apps and Mental Health in Educational Institutions: Usage and Effectiveness

Anqa Arshad — 2025-11-08

Mental health challenges among students in educational institutions have escalated alarmingly, exacerbated further by pandemic-induced disruptions and associated psychosocial stresses. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) have emerged as promising tools to bridge gaps in mental health care delivery, offering scalable, accessible, and personalized interventions tailored to this tech-savvy population. This study systematically reviews current evidence on the usage patterns, effectiveness, and user engagement of mobile mental health apps deployed within educational contexts. The integration of cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy techniques in these apps have demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms among students. However, challenges related to user retention, cultural appropriateness, privacy concerns, and integration with traditional counseling services persist. Analysis of research predominantly conducted in North America, Europe, and increasingly in Asian countries, including Pakistan and Malaysia, indicates positive but variable efficacy outcomes. This review further highlights the need for culturally adapted evidence-based mobile interventions combined with human support elements to optimize mental health outcomes. Recommendations for future app development, research directions, and policy implications for embedding mHealth in educational institutions are discussed.

Self-Charging Smartphones for Sustainable Energy Management

Muhammad Hamza — 2025-09-30

The rapid advancement of smartphone technology has significantly increased user dependence on mobile devices for communication, productivity, and daily activities. However, limited battery life remains a persistent challenge, leading to frequent charging requirements, user inconvenience, and increased environmental impact. This study presents an analytical examination of self-charging smartphone technology as a sustainable solution to contemporary energy management issues in mobile devices. Self-charging smartphones utilize energy harvesting mechanisms to generate power from environmental sources such as solar radiation and kinetic motion. This paper focuses on the conceptual development and feasibility of integrating these technologies into modern smartphones from a business and innovation perspective. Solar energy harvesting through thin-film and transparent photovoltaic materials, along with kinetic energy harvesting using piezoelectric systems, is analyzed as the most practical approaches for near-term implementation. The study evaluates the potential benefits of self-charging smartphones, including reduced dependence on external charging infrastructure, enhanced user convenience, extended battery lifespan, and contributions to environmental sustainability. Additionally, it examines the key limitations associated with this technology, such as slow charging rates, higher manufacturing costs, environmental dependency, and increased product complexity. From a new product development and strategic innovation standpoint, the findings suggest that while self-charging technology is not yet capable of fully replacing conventional charging methods, it offers significant value as a complementary energy solution. The paper concludes that continued technological advancement and cost optimization could position self-charging smartphones as a viable and competitive innovation in the sustainable mobile technology market.