An Analysis of the Concept and Practices of Sustainable Development among Postgraduate Students in District Lahore

Sustainable development captured the attention of public and private authorities worldwide. Pakistan also started contributing towards sustainable development since 1992. This paper aimed to analyze the concept and practices of sustainable development among postgraduates in district Lahore, Pakistan. The purpose of the study was to assess the extent of awareness among postgraduates; the stakeholders to ensure the sustainability in the near future. Moreover, reviewing their practices regarding sustainable development. Two stage random sampling technique was used and therefore one hundred and fifty students were taken as a sample from six postgraduate institutions of Lahore. Two self-structured questionnaires were administered to collect the data. Likert scale in Questionnaire “A” was used to assess the extent of awareness; questionnaire “B” with options yes/no was used to check the practices regarding sustainable development. Data were analyzed by using different statistical techniques i.e. frequency distribution, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation was applied to find the relationship among the variables. Findings showed that neither the extent of awareness is very high nor the practices are in the favor of sustainable development but there exists the positive significant relationship between awareness and practices. The paper proposed that being a developing country, sustenance is exigent and emergent facet of Pakistan’s future sustainable development. It is recommended that to ensure sustainability; ESD should be made an essential component of all educational programs at post graduate level.

model etc. Simply the most popular among all is the three legged stool model which was suggested by Flint. R.W. & Houser. W.L. In this model each leg represents one of each of the vital components-Economic liveliness, Ecological Integrity and Social Equity. If one of the leg removed the stool couldn't stand. Underlining the significance of all three legs to upholding the upright position of stool as equally all three components are essential to the satisfying of sustainable targets. Living a Sustainable Lifestyle for Our Children's Children By R. Warren Flint, W. L. Houser 2001 Sustainable growth is a huge term that comprises upon different areas of environment protection, economic and social growth. These areas are the creations of the sustainable evolution. Sustainable growth is often reported as being built on three equally important foundations or pillars. These three are the vital pillars of the sustainable development and are strongly interrelated for the healthier and secure environment and integrated in such a manner that an equilibrium is needed for the proper working of the global cycles.
Sustainability doesn't emphasises on environmental, social, economical perspective solely but seek to find out harmony and equilibrium between the triplet is the name of sustainability. Karatzoglu, 2012 says that he holistic approach, esential to achive the transition between three pillars of sustaiable development and univerisites have been active contributors towards the attainment of sustainable development.
Importance of sustainable development can be realized form the following facts: Environmental sustainability is a key for human health and survival. Practical utilization of assets and ecological concern has turned out to be progressively vital to address the disturbing states of environmental change and if are not tended to, this will bring about high social and monetary cost. It includes: climate change, quality air; the tone of urban air is so pathetic that it controls the quantity of suspended particles (2-3.5) times higher than the safe limit (Environment, 2014, p. 263), proper water and sanitation system as per Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), the heft of the populace in the provincial region is presented to the dangers of drinking risky and sullied water from both surface and ground water sources, efficient waste management, measures to increase forest, eradicating threats to bio diversity. Genuine dangers to wild landraces of developed harvests have been exhibited by the passage of high return assortments, agribusiness extension and dam development, they all prompt to the debasement of biodiversity assets Baig and Subaiee (2011). Sfakianak (2015) emphasized on resource efficient construction to satisfy the objectives of economic development aligning with the environment.
The word refers to the social characteristics of living creatures, including Flora, Fauna and populations of human organisms' social sustainability encompasses: Poverty Reduction, Gender Equality and women Empowerment, Culture Preservation; few things in human lifetime are more powerful than ideas and concepts, and culture is one of the most influential in all walkways of life (Dessein, Soini, Fairclough & Horlings, 2015). culture takes on its evolutionary, holistic and transformative role, supplying a novel paradigm to the question of sustainable development (Soini & Birkeland, 2014).
Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.9, No.10, 2019 Source: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/Think%20Pieces/2_culture.pdf Adam Smith made the idea of the political economy. Smith's ideal market society would now be guarding nature and our social frameworks for payment. The concepts that are engraved in it are: green productions, economic development.
Actions are louder than the words. Sustainable Practices under the umbrella of improvement are displayed as takes after:

Environment:
 Know what is renewable and can be utilized in valuable and conservative ways.  Designate "no-assemble", "no-improvement" zones with open strategies.  Know what existing strategies (neighborhood, region, government) identify with the normal assets in your district. Socio-Cultural:  To know the historical backdrop of the station.  Rejoice the positives of social history.  Describe the fate of a sprouting group; an imaginative, dynamic culture  Focus forthcoming shots; lessen negative considering.  Seek out coordinated effort from and with adjoined groups. Innovations/Technology:  Encourage and put resources into innovations that will spare assets, time, cash, or create new open doors.  Eschew advancements that are not useful and that might be inefficient of different assets over the long haul.  Reconsider low-tech, more seasoned advances for new applications to new issues.  Inspire and upgrade interests in new abilities that have dependable, positive ramifications for the entire group.  Evaluate all infrastructural choices to attempt various outcomes with single framework costs. This study may be helpful for the stakeholders. Development without distraction is the basic requirement of the sustainable development. The focus of the study will be on the assessment of the concept of awareness in students at postgraduate level and their practices regarding sustainable development. This will say that what kind of skills and knowledge is imparted by educational institutions in the environmentalists, social scientists and economists and it is the ultimate responsibility of the educational institutions to incorporate the concept of sustainability among postgraduates for the atmospheric peace, social harmony and economic sustenance. This study will provide the extent of awareness of sustainable development among the educated cultivation and whether their practices contribute to ensure sustainability.

Statement of the research topic
Sustainable development is an emerging concept in the third world. Sustainability s an essential and vital aspect to effectiveness. The study designed to analyze "The Concept and Practices of Sustainable Development among Postgraduate Students in Lahore" Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.9, No.10, 2019 Objectives of the study Following were the objectives formulated for the study to:  measure the level of awareness of postgraduate's regarding sustainable development.  check the practices of sustainable development among postgraduates.  find a relationship between the awareness and practices regarding sustainable development.

Research Questions 1.
To what extent students are aware of sustainable development at postgraduate level? 2. Do the female students more aware regarding sustainable development on the basis of degree program? 3. Does semester, contribute to aware the pupils at postgraduate level? 4. Is there significant difference regarding practices of sustainable development on the basis of gender? 5. Whether the degree program and semester, contribute to the practices of sustainable development? 6. Does semester add to improve the practices of postgraduates regarding sustainable development? 7. Is there a relationship exists between awareness and practices regarding sustainable development?

Methodology Research Design
The descriptive method was used to analyze the concept and practices of postgraduates regarding sustainable development. Cross sectional survey was used as research design and Pearson correlation analysis to see the strength of correlation between the extent of awareness and practices regarding sustainable development. Descriptive research involves collecting data from postgraduates of six institutions of Lahore city in order to draw findings and generalizing the results.

Participants
Population of the study were the post graduate students of the six institutions of the Lahore city; namely University of the Punjab, Government College University, University of the Education (Bank and Lower Mall road Campus), University of engineering and technology and Government postgraduate college for women Samanabad Lahore. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect data as whoever happened to be available in the summer vacations.

Instrumentation
The research instrument used for the study were two questionnaires; questionnaire "A" was with Likert scale having 5 alternative ratings i.e. 5 for high awareness and 1 for least awareness to measure the extent of awareness among postgraduates. Questionnaire "B" was used to check the practices regarding sustainable development with yes/ no option. Moreover, demographic information was also collected.

Validity and reliability of the instrument
The tool was validated by experts. Reliability of the instrument is given as follows: Reliability of the tool consisting upon 29 items was measured by using SPSS and the Charonbac's alpha coefficient was 0.723 that shows a good reliability among items.

Data Analysis and interpretation
Analysis and interpretation of data is the heart of research work. Data collected from the hard toils analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. In terms of disciplines, the total of 44 (29.3%) were from Pure sciences, 88 (58.0 %) of Social Sciences and 18 (12.0 %) representing Applied Sciences.

Scale
In terms of semester 76 participant were junior (50.7%) as they are in earlier semester of the degree programs and 73 (48.7) were senior as they are studying in late semester of their degree programs. In this study 59 (39.3%) were Male whereas 60.7% were Female. The t-test showed that there is a significant difference (p<.05) between the mean scores of male (48.3390) and females (52.8571) with the t-value of -3.282 and df. 148. Females are comparatively more aware as compare to males. As far as the semester is concerned it is divided into two categories junior (76) and senior (73). Students' t-test was applied and it is evident it doesn't put significant difference (p>.05). The t-value is -.972 df. 147. The table above demonstrates the practices of participants regarding sustainable development. For comparison purpose independent sample t-test was applied. Results shows that the difference the found on the basis of gender is significant (p<.05) with the t-value -2.412 and practices of females (10.6484) are more sustainable as compare to males (9.7119). Moreover, there is no significant difference (p>.05) found on the basis of semester. The df. Is 147 and the t-value is -5.14.
Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol.9, No.10, 2019  Significant at level p <0.05 Analysis of variance was applied to measure the difference in the mean scores on awareness and practices regarding sustainable development on the basis of degree program, it is evident that no significant difference (p > .05) was found on the basis of degree program. The above table indicated that a positive significant relationships (p< .05) exists between the awareness and the practices of the sustainable development at postgraduate level. It means that the more the students are aware about sustainable development, the more they practice

Summary and Findings
In the light of data analysis, findings were drawn. Following findings are drawn from the analysis of data.
1. The statistic results show that total participants for the present study were 150 students out of them 59 (39.3%) were male whereas 60.7% were female. The degree Programs were divided into three categories; results revealed that out of 150 participants 44 (29.3%) were of natural sciences, 88 (58.0 %) of Social Sciences and 18 (12.0 %) enrolled in Applied Sciences. Percentage method was applied to divide the participants. They responded 100% against the demographic variable. It has been observed that 76 participants were junior (50.7%) as they are in earlier semester of the degree programs and 73 were senior as they are studying in late semester of their degree programs. 2. Independent sample t-test was applied to compare the level of awareness regarding sustainable development the mean scores. Results show that there is a significant difference (p<.05) between the mean scores of male (48.3390) and females (52.8571) with the t-value of -3.282 and df. 148. Females are comparatively more aware as compare to males. Comparison of awareness regarding sustainable development on the basis of semester was done by dividing the variable into two categories i.e. junior and senior. T-test was applied to accomplish the research purpose. It is evident from the analysis there is no significant difference (p>.05) was found and the t-value is -.972 df. 147. 3. For comparison purpose independent sample t-test was applied. Results shows that the difference the found on the basis of gender is significant (p<.05) with the t-value -2.412. Moreover, practices of females (10.6484) are more sustainable as compare to males (9.7119). Table demonstrates the Comparison of sustainable development practices on the basis of semesters divided into two categories junior (76) and senior (73). T-test was applied and it is evident there is no significant difference (p>.05). The df. Is 147 and the t-value is -5.14. 4. Analysis of variance was applied to measure impact of degree program on the level of awareness and it was found that the students of different degree program don't put the significant role; i.e. (p>.05) in their awareness regarding sustainable development. Statistical analysis show that no significant difference (p>.05) was found on the basis of degree program regarding practices of sustainable development. The degree of freedom between groups is 11 and the within groups is 138. 5. A positive significant relation (p< .05) was found between awareness and practice

Conclusion
It was concluded from the finding that there is significant difference on the basis of gender and females are comparatively more aware as compare to males. The degree program don not puts the significant impact to aware