Participatory Based Transactions in Sharī‘ah (Islamic Commercial Law) and Their Role in the Development of Rural Local Agricultural Sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Local farming is, indeed, the most important sector of agriculture through which farmers grow food. However, owing to their weak financial conditions, they are not able to get maximum benefits from their labours for most of the times. The case of Pakistani farmers, particularly in rural areas of KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), is not different in this connection. They frequently resort to formal and informal sources of financing to accomplish their basic agricultural requirements: both crops and non-crops inclusive. However, all these sources advance financing facility on interest basis. Being typical Muslims, such agricultural credit is, therefore, avoided by these farmers and, as a result, they always endure on their financial grounds. In such situations, some substitute arrangements are recommended to reciprocate with their problems. This alternative is offered by Sharī‘ah through various commercial transactions – among which participatory based transaction i.e. Mushārakah is the most suitable and important one. In the present work, various models are proposed on the basis of such transaction to fulfill various agricultural requirements of farmers, living in rural areas of KP.  In addition, such models are structured in the light of basic theory, available in the classical literature of Islamic law, in order to make them more Sharī‘ah based rather Sharī‘ah compliant. The proposed models are then, at the second stage, tested at ground level to strengthen further their viability for all stake holders. Findings show that all agricultural requirements, particularly heavy machinery and transport, can be realized through such models provided if they are applied in their true spirit. Moreover, content analysis and focused group technique of qualitative research have been used, as a research methodology, for the investigation of the issue in the present work.

A Study of the Effectiveness of Virtual Eduaction Model in Pakistan

Virtual education is a distance mode of education which imparts education through synchronous and asynchronous types of educational technologies. It aims to provide equal educational opportunities to large number of learners beyond the gender biasness, geographical boundaries and cultural issues. It is cost effective, learner centered, activity based and flexible education system. It also provides educational opportunities to in service people, physically defected and persons bound to live in boundaries. Virtual education facilitates people to continue their education with ease and comfort without disturbing their normal routine responsibilities. Virtual learners can attend their teaching learning activities according to their own pace, time and schedule. With the advancement, application and vide acceptance of modern educational technologies virtual education is getting popularity day by day. In Pakistan first virtual education university was established in 2002 with clear mission “not for profit”. It is a federal charted university which has established 27 its own campuses and has affiliated 137 private virtual campuses in short spell of time. More than 100000 virtual learners have been enrolled in this university up to 2015. The present study was conducted with the main objectives (i) to study the framework of virtual education model, (ii) to highlight the instructional paradigms of virtual education, (iii) to identify the significance of virtual education in Pakistan, (iv) to evaluate the components of virtual education model in Pakistan, (v) to explore the challenges faced by virtual students in Pakistan, and (vi) to recommend measures for improving virtual education model in Pakistan. The population of the study consisted of faculty members and the virtual learners of the MBA program of the virtual university of Pakistan. The convenient sampling technique was adopted for study. The total sample of the study was (451) consisted of one hundred (100) faculty members, three hundred and fifty one (351) virtual learners. The study was descriptive in nature therefore survey approach was considered appropriate and adopted for its completion. Two (02) questionnaires on five points rating (likert) scale were prepared. Research tools were finalized after their pilot testing with the calculated reliability of the research instruments. The samples could only be found virtually therefore research tools were converted into google.doc to collect data. Collected data was coded in SPSS version 20 and was statistically analyzed by using percentage, mean score and standard deviation. Form the data analysis it was found that virtual education was an effective mode of education in Pakistan. The study also concluded that virtual education model of Pakistan was providing quality education based upon the parameters of learner centeredness, cost effectiveness, activity based, need based and meeting international standards of education. Therefore, the study also recommended some suggestions to improve the virtual education model. Some other public and private sector universities should also start virtual education in Pakistan to endorse quality education. Teacher student interaction should be made more cohesive. Private virtual campuses should ensure accountability and accreditation. Co-curricular activities should also be given proper weightage in virtual education.