Approval

I dedicate this research to my dear parents, Sardar Pervaiz Sarwar & Seema Pervaiz, for their unconditional love, support and faith in me. They instilled a deep appreciation for the value of moral ethics, self-help and helping others, and also encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity. Thanks, Dad, for believing I could do whatever I set out to accomplish. Mom, you transferred in me the love of learning and for that I am deeply grateful. I would also like to thank my beloved uncle and aunt, Brg Khurshid Ahmed and Perveen Khurshid; you are the best mentors a girl could ever have, especially in the culture that I came from. Last but not the least, my siblings Arsal Pervaiz, Zeeshan Perviaz and Kanza Pervaiz who stood by me at all times, my cousins Aisha Khurshid and Amna Rasheed, for their love and support, my friends Ana, Val, Jody, Arricka,Michelle and Katrina, for being the best of friends, and my thesis advisor Prof Roanald Fulle for his guidance and time