Department of Sociology Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

15/12/2025

AWKUM Faculty and PhD Scholars Participate in 4th International Conference on Family in Istanbul, Turkey
Mardan / Istanbul, November 27–28, 2025:
Dr, Hussain Ali ,Assistant professor and Coordinator Department of Sociology AWKUM.

15/12/2025

AWKUM Faculty and PhD Scholars Participate in 4th International Conference on Family in Istanbul, Turkey
Mardan / Istanbul, November 27–28, 2025
Associate Professor Dr. Ahmad Ali Chairperson Department Of Sociology AWKUM

15/12/2025

Press Release
AWKUM Faculty and PhD Scholars Participate in 4th International Conference on Family in Istanbul, Turkey
Mardan / Istanbul, November 27–28, 2025:

Dr. Ahmad Ali, Chairperson, Department of Sociology, Dr. Hussain Ali, Assistant Professor of Sociology, along with PhD scholars from the Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), participated in the 4th International Conference on Family, held on November 27–28, 2025, at Halic University, Istanbul, Turkey.
The international conference was jointly organized by Halic University Istanbul and the Global Institute of Social Sciences Research (GISSR), bringing together scholars, researchers, and practitioners from different countries to deliberate on contemporary family-related issues.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ahmad Ali emphasized that the family is the basic unit of society, highlighting that Islam clearly defines the structure, roles, and functions of the family from an Islamic perspective. He argued that the Western world is facing serious
challenges of family disintegration due to westernized culture and lifestyle patterns, whereas in Pakistan the family system remains a strong bond between parents and children, serving as a source of social stability.
Dr. Hussain Ali presented a research paper focusing on the gendered impacts of the 2022 floods in Pakistan and their adverse effects on family life. In his presentation, he shared findings from the Global Climate Risk Index Report 2025, according to which Pakistan is ranked first among the most vulnerable countries to climate change and changing weather patterns. He further explained that climate-induced disasters significantly contribute to family disintegration, displacement, and increased vulnerability of marginalized populations in Pakistan.
The conference organizers highly appreciated the academic participation and research contributions of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, acknowledging the relevance and quality of the presented research. At the conclusion of the event, shields and certificates were distributed among the presenters.
In addition to academic sessions, Dr. Ahmad Ali and Dr. Hussain Ali conducted networking meetings with faculty members and representatives of various civil society organizations in Istanbul. The meetings resulted in a mutual agreement to establish strong academic and research collaboration between the Department of Sociology, AWKUM, and different universities and institutions in Turkey.

Reported by:
Dr. Hussain Ali
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

09/12/2025

Press Release
Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM)

The Department of Sociology, AWKUM, proudly participated in the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation Expo 2025, organized by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Relief, Rehabilitation & Settlement Department.

On the final day of the expo, a delegation of more than 32 students (both male and female) from the Department of Sociology visited the event under the participation and guidance of Dr. Muhammad Ishaq, Sir Yousaf Ali, and Madam Brikhna Begum, with the valuable coordination and support of our Department Coordinator, Dr. Hussain Ali.

During the visit, the students explored various organizational camps and held productive discussions with representatives from government departments, NGOs, humanitarian agencies, and development organizations. The interactions focused on opportunities related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation, community resilience, internships, field research, and future collaborations.

The participating organizations warmly welcomed our students, appreciating their interest and academic engagement. Many stalls shared informative materials, diaries, and tokens of acknowledgment as a gesture of encouragement.

This visit enriched students’ practical understanding of disaster management and climate adaptation, strengthened academic–industry linkages, and encouraged further participation in policy, research, and community-based initiatives.

The Department of Sociology extends its sincere gratitude to the organizing bodies and looks forward to continued collaborative learning opportunities.

— Department of Sociology, AWKUM

07/12/2025

06/12/2025

‎Press Release
‎National Seminar on "UNiT to End Digital Violence Against all Women and Girls" Held at AWKUM
‎
‎Mardan, December 5, 2025 — The Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), successfully organized a one-day National Seminar at the IBL Hall, Garden Campus in collaboration with UNFPA Pakistan. The event was held in connection with the global campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence".
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‎Prof. Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, graced the seminar as Chief Guest. Dr. Azam Khan shared his opening remarks and welcomed all the guest sepakers. The seminar featured distinguished panelists including Dr. Riffat Sardar, Former Chairperson, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women; Ms. Saima Munir, Program Manager, Aurat Foundation; Mr. Muhammad Zakriya, Program Manager, UNFPA; Dr. Rabia, Ombudsperson KP; Ms. Shabina Gulzar, Team Lead, British Council Pakistan; Mr. Ikram Ullah Khan, Principal Research Officer, Center of Excellence for CVE-KP; and Dr. Minhas Majeed Khan, Chairperson, International Relations, University of Peshawar.
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‎An empirical research study on digital violence against women and girls was shared by Dr. Noor Jehan, Associate Professor of Economics, AWKUM to the audience.
‎Dr. Hussain Ali was the chief organizer of the event. The event was attended by Dr. Tariq Mehmood, Director ORIC, Dr. Ahmad Ali Chairperson Sociology, male and female faculty members, and over 165 students from various departments.
‎
‎The seminar aimed to promote awareness, academic dialogue, and institutional responsibility in addressing digital and physical gender-based violence in society. Dr. Ahmad Ali chairperson sociology shared closing remarks and pay thanks to all distinguished guests and UNFPA for their logistics support. At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan presented shields to the guest speakers in recognition of their valuable contributions.

28/11/2025

Press Release

The University Advancement & Career Development Center (UA&CDC), Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), successfully organized an insightful seminar titled “Unlock Global Research Opportunities and Build Your Career with HEC’s IRSIP” on 27 November 2025.
The seminar commenced with a warm welcome note delivered by Dr. Syed Rashid Ali, Chairman, Department of Sociology, AWKUM.
Two distinguished scholars shared their valuable experiences as IRSIP fellows:
Guest Speaker 1:
Dr. Muhammad Zahid, Chief Proctor AWKUM and IRSIP Fellow to the University of Bath, UK, highlighted the significance of international research exposure and guided students on preparing strong IRSIP applications.
Guest Speaker 2:
Dr. Muhammad Bilal, Director UA & CDC AWKUM and IRSIP Fellow to the University of Toronto, Canada, emphasized the academic and professional impact of global research engagement and motivated students to pursue international opportunities.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Syed Sanaullah, who appreciated the organizing efforts and stressed the importance of promoting international research opportunities among students.
PhD and BS students from multiple departments, including Sociology, Criminology, Education, International Relations, and Psychology, actively participated in the seminar.
UA&CDC AWKUM remains committed to empowering students with global opportunities, career development pathways, and research-oriented initiatives.

24/11/2025

Press Release

Dr. Hussain Ali, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, conducted a two-day training workshop at The University of Haripur on November 20–21, 2025.
The purpose of the workshop was to train students on how to conduct the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)-2025 household survey.

A total of 20 students from various disciplines actively participated in the training. Key components included detailed discussions on household survey methods and techniques, ethical considerations, and the roles of various community-level stakeholders. Students were also divided into groups to perform role-play exercises on household survey activities and reporting.

The master trainer further introduced participants to online tools and applications used for conducting household surveys and explained different monitoring techniques essential for fieldwork quality assurance.

This training was supported by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), the organization leading ASER-2025 in Pakistan. The focal person for the workshop was Dr. Ali Raza, Institute of Management Sciences, The University of Haripur.

At the end of the workshop, participants shared their learning experiences and expressed their commitment to conducting a well-organized ASER-2025 household survey.
Dr. Hussain Ali also expressed sincere gratitude to the university administration for their facilitation and extended special appreciation to ITA for their sponsorship and support.

15/11/2025

PRESS RELEASE
Department of Sociology
Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan
November 12, 2025

DR. HUSSAIN ALI DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AT WOMEN UNIVERSITY SWABI
Women University Swabi organized an insightful seminar titled “Human Rights Status in Pakistan” on November 12, 2025.
Dr. Hussain Ali, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, participated as the Guest Speaker and delivered a comprehensive presentation titled “Understanding Human Rights in Pakistan: Constitutional Guarantees, Legal Framework & Institutional Role.”
In his address, Dr. Hussain Ali highlighted the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and emphasized that the legal framework guarantees extensive human rights protections for all citizens. He discussed the institutional mechanisms established by the state to ensure justice, equality, and freedom, acknowledging their continued efforts to uphold the constitutional rights of the people.
While commending the existing framework, Dr. Ali also raised important concerns regarding the gaps in implementation, stressing that although rights are well protected in law, challenges remain in ensuring equal, timely, and fair access for all citizens. He urged the students—calling them the future leaders of Pakistan—to play an active role in strengthening governance systems and promoting a culture of justice and accountability.
Dr. Hussain Ali expressed his appreciation to the student organizers and extended his gratitude to the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Women University Swabi, and the university administration for their support and facilitation of the event.
In the concluding remarks, Ms. Attia Quresh thanked Dr. Hussain Ali for his valuable insights on human rights and acknowledged the role of students as change agents in society.
At the end of the program, shields were presented to the guest speaker and student organizers in recognition of their contributions. The event was hosted under the leadership of Ms. Attia Quresh, Head of the Pakistan Studies Department, and attended by faculty members, students, and scholars from various disciplines. Ms. Fatima Awan, PhD Scholar at the Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, also played an important organizational role and represented the Sociology Department during the seminar.
Some of the key slides from Dr. Ali’s presentation are shared below to enhance students’ learning.

12/11/2025

Department of Sociology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

Shaban Fazal from BS Criminology (1st Semester) proudly represented his department by participating in the Urdu Declamation Contest held during Anti-Corruption Week 2025.

The event was organized by the Debating Society at IBL Hall Garden, AWKUM, and brought together talented speakers from various departments to raise awareness about honesty, integrity, and accountability.

Shaban Khan delivered a powerful speech on the topic:
"Har nafs darta hoon is ummat ki baidare se
ha haqeeqat jin ke deen ka ahtisaab kainat"
capturing the essence of moral awakening and the importance of self-accountability in society.

The program was graced by the presence of the Director NAB, Respected Vice Chancellor, and other distinguished university authorities, who appreciated the participants for their efforts and eloquence.

This participation reflects the commitment of the Department of Sociology towards promoting intellectual engagement and ethical awareness among students.

11/11/2025

Press Release
Dr. Hussain Ali Meets Honorable Vice Chancellor to Share Policy Contributions

Mardan, November 11, 2025:
Dr. Hussain Ali, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM), met the Honorable Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Jamil Ahmed, in the Office of the Vice Chancellor on November 11, 2025.

The purpose of the meeting was to present Dr. Hussain Ali’s recent policy contributions to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, derived from his academic research and evidence-based policy recommendations. During the discussion, Dr. Hussain highlighted that several initiatives have already been undertaken by the provincial government based on his research findings and recommendations.

Dr. Hussain also shared his future plans aimed at enhancing the branding, visibility, and academic impact of AWKUM at national and international levels.

The Honorable Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Jamil Ahmed, appreciated Dr. Hussain Ali’s efforts and acknowledged his valuable contributions toward provincial policy development and the university’s growing reputation. He shared that these policy contributions be featured on the official AWKUM website for wider dissemination and to showcase the university’s impact on public policy and governance in the province.

Professor Dr. Jamil Ahmed emphasized that such research-based policy engagements play a vital role in the socio-economic development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and significantly contribute to AWKUM’s national and international ranking. He also assigned Dr. Hussain specific tasks to develop concept notes for future collaborative initiatives.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Hussain Ali presented a formal copy of his policy contribution report to the Honorable Vice Chancellor.

04/11/2025

Can Pashtunwali—the indigenous ethical and cultural framework of the Pashtuns—inform and guide research in the social sciences? To what extent have Eurocentric paradigms come to dominate research ethics, and what are the implications of applying such frameworks in indigenous contexts? Are Eurocentric ethical principles appropriate or sufficient when engaging with communities governed by local moral systems such as Pashtunwali? Furthermore, what happens when these local cultural values come into conflict with Eurocentric research ethics? In cases where such tensions arise, what strategies can researchers employ to navigate or reconcile these ethical dilemmas? To gain a deeper understanding of these debates, please refer to the article published in the Qualitative Research Journal, which draws on the authors’ autoethnographic reflections.

PDF | Purpose While conducting research in non-Western contexts, local cultural values confront conventional research ethics, which results in... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate