Effective communication is a key to national progress. Pakistan is located in a region where South-Asia converges with Central Asia and the Middle East. Blessed with extensive natural resources and rich agricultural land, it improves its economy particularly by exporting valuable items. In order to improve trade and economic activities and to materialize regional linkages with China, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and other neighbouring Central Asian countries, the country is gearing up towards a large infrastructure network. Roads constitute a vital part of the infrastructure. In Pakistan most of the roads are constructed using flexible pavement concept, due to their comparatively low construction and maintenance cost. Pakistan has national highways with a length over 9555 Kilometers and motorways of 515 Kilometers. The drastic increase in traffic volume during the last few decades has resulted in premature pavement failures of almost the whole infrastructure of Pakistan. Premature rutting of flexible pavements is one of the major pavement distresses being faced by the country which is primarily due to uncontrolled axle load and high ambient temperatures. Rutting in asphaltic concrete depends on many factors, such as the composition of asphalt mixes, grading and quality of aggregates, type of binder, percentage of the bituminous binder, air void contents, degree of compaction, environmental conditions, load repetition, the substructure, and the bearing capacity of the subgrade. The objective of this research work was to compare the Superpave, Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) and Marshall methods of mix design of asphaltic concrete and to propose rut resisting asphalt mix suitable for local loading and environmental conditions. The mixes selected for the study were dense graded in case of Superpave and Marshall methods whereas gap graded for SMA. A comprehensive testing program was conducted on the samples prepared in the laboratory at the design asphalt contents and aggregate gradations. iiiPhysical properties of aggregates and asphalt were determined in the laboratory confirming to ASTM and AASHTO specifications. Mechanical Properties of Marshall, Superpave and Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) were evaluated by performing Indirect Tensile Modulus Test, Uniaxial Loading Strain Test (Creep Test), Dynamic Modulus Test and Wheel Tracking Test under prevailing load and environmental conditions of Pakistan in order to compare the performance of mixes. The study revealed that Superpave mixes performed better than Marshall and SMA mixes in terms of low induced permanent strains, high modulus of resilience, high dynamic modulus and better resistance against wheel rutting during wheel tracking test. Superpave technology can be adopted for the design of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavements in the country due to its superiority over the conventional mix design procedures. The guidelines for implementing Superpave mix design procedure in Pakistan have been proposed. In addition, a performance grading map has been proposed to be implemented in Pakistan by dividing it into seven zones according to the highest and lowest pavement temperatures. Keywords: Superpave, Rutting, Hot Mix Asphalt, Pavement
Gog and Magog Interpretations by Modern Scholars and its Application on Contemporary Nations: An Analytical Study According to the Islamic point of view Gog and Magog (Ya’jūj Ma’jūj), are two such supernatural and aggressive powers that will reveal from some unknown place. According to Islamic sources the two disbelieving powers (tribes) are the children of Yāfith son of Noah. Humanity will affect badly at their severely harmful activities on the earth. In the beginning they were free into some unknown place. The famous king Dhulqarnayn imprisoned them behind an unknown thick wall in human history. There are many conjectures regarding the wall, and it is sometimes considered in any Norwegian country because of too long duration of sunrise in these countries. Their population will be 10 times more than the World’s populations. They will be so much trouble creating nation from the race of Noah (A.S) even Isa (Christ) will take refuge on the mountain of Toor and Muslims will pray Allah to get rid of them. Today some modern Islamic researchers have been claiming that they are in fact, Chines or Russians as we find their resemblance in prophet's traditions. In this article, an attempt has been made to unveil the disputed matter that either they exist in current age in form of living peoples or some hidden which will be revealed before the end of time. The purpose of this research is to revisit different speculations about Gog and Magog as we find them also into the Bible. Many Muslims research took effect from Bible’s concept ignoring the traditions of the prophet and find out many different solutions which, according to me are to be seen into the true and clear facts by Quran and Sunnah.
Pakistani school leaders need to move from traditional approach to school development planning, i.e. from some kind of listed short-term operational activities to a more effective strategic planning (Khan, 2008). Hence, the purpose of the study was to facilitate the process of strategic planning in a community school in Karachi, Pakistan which resulted in developing a contextually relevant model of strategic planning for school improvement. For this study, participatory action research (PAR) was employed within the qualitative research paradigm. The data collection tools included document analysis, semi-structured interviews, reflections and field notes. This study had three major stages that were reconnaissance, intervention and post-intervention. During reconnaissance stage, current practices for strategic planning were explored. This was done through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with all the research participants. During intervention, McCune’s model of strategic planning was adapted to develop school’s strategic plan with the involvement of all the research participants which included a principal, parent, school management committee member, two students and two teachers. During the implementation of McCune’s model of strategic planning, research participants wrote their reflections and researcher took the field notes. At the post-intervention stage, semi-structured interviews with all the research participants were conducted to reflect on the overall experience of strategic planning, together with identifying facilitating and hindering factors faced during the process. Furthermore, their views and suggestions for the improvement of the planning process were taken. The findings of the study present a framework for strategic planning for the community schools in Pakistan. Resultantly, the study provides a framework through which community schools in Pakistan can develop their strategic plan involving all the stakeholders for sustainable school improvement.