Book Launch: Pakistan Origins, Identity and Future
Panelists: Prof Pervez Hoodbhoy (Author), Dr Maria Rashid (Chair), Dr Salman Khan (Discussant). This book is an accessible, comprehensive, and nuanced history of Pakistan. It reflects upon state and society in Pakistan and shows they have been shaped by historical forces and personae. Drawing on a range of sources and written by one of the foremost intellectuals of the region, this book will be indispensable for scholars, researchers, students of history, politics, and South Asian studies. The book launch was organised collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Discussion Forum on 12 October 2023 at SOAS University of London. More details and video of the book launch.

Book Launch: Pakistan’s Alternative Wars: An Alternative History
Panelists: Prof Tariq Rahman (Author), Dr Farooq Bajwa (Chair), Dr Maria Rashid (Discussant). This book studies the wars Pakistan has fought over the years with India as well as other non-state actors. Focusing on the first Kashmir war (1947–48), the wars of 1965 and 1971, and the 1999 Kargil war, it analyses the elite decision-making, which leads to these conflicts and tries to understand how Pakistan got involved in the first place. Read the book review published by Bloomsbury Pakistan. More details about the book launch. The book launch was organised collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Discussion Forum and SOAS ICOP Student Society on 19 July 2023 at SOAS University of London.

Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) London 2023
The Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) London will be held on 17th June 2023 at Conway Hall. PLF London is launched by the pioneers of literature festivals, Ameena Saiyid & Asif Farrukhi, Lightstone Publishers and Bloomsbury Pakistan. PLF London is a part of the movement in Pakistan to celebrate academics, writers, artists, free debate and creative expression. PLF 2023 Programme and More details

Reimagining Pakistan: Root Cause of Economic Crisis
Dr Miftah Ismail is Pakistan’s former Minister of Finance. He holds a PhD in Public Finance and Political Economy from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. It was held on 11th May 2023 in collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Discussion Forum and ICOP Society. Coverage in the Dawn and BBC Urdu Service.

Book Launch: Pakistan Left Review: Then and Now
Speaker: Prof Amin Mughal, Prof Salima Hashmi, Prof Kamran Asdar Ali (via Zoom)
Prof Stephen Lyon and Nadir Cheema
held on 21 October 2022
More details
 and video of the lecture.

Asma Jahangir Lecture 2022 – Role of Judiciary in Upholding Democratic Rights and Processes
Speaker: Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Chair: Prof Martin Lau, SOAS, Introduction: Ms Sulema Jahangir. Justice Qazi Faez Isa is a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Professor Martin Lau is the Professor of South Asian Law at SOAS University of London . Ms Sulema Jahangir is a partner at Dawson Cornwall law firm in London and a board member of AGHS – Asma Jahangir’s Law Firm in Pakistan. She specialises in family law, constitutional law, and human rights cases. on 8 March 2022. More details and video of the lecture.

 
Book Launch –
Dying to Serve: Militarism, Affect, and the Politics of Sacrifice in the Pakistan Army
Dr Maria Rashid on her book ‘Dying to Serve – Militarism, Affect, and the Politics of Sacrifice in the Pakistan Army’ , Discussant: Prof Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History at the University of Oxford. Dr David Taylor chaired the book launch held on 23 September 2020. More details  and  Video of the event


Seminar Series on Pakistan’s response to COVID-19 in collabotation with ISMC-AKU
Education –
Dr Faisal Bari and Dr Farid Panjwani, moderated by Prof Stephen Lyon, 6 May 2020. Video
Economy and Social Welfare Programme – Dr Ismail Miftah and Dr Sohail Choudhry, 8 July 2020. Video
Health –  Dr Zafar Mirza, Health Minister of Pakistan moderated by Prof Stephen Lyon, 3 June 2020. Video
Gender – Prof Anjum Halai and Dr Huma Baqai, moderated by Dr David Taylor, 19 August 2020. Video

 

Book Launch: New Perspectives on Pakistan’s Political Economy
Dr Matthew McCartney and Dr Akbar Zaidi spoke on their edited volume ‘New Perspectives on Pakistan’s Political Economy: State, Class and Social Change’. Dr Mukulika Banerjee chaired the book launch, other participants: Prof Adnan Khan and Dr Natalya Naqvi. The event took place on 15th November 2019 in collaboration with the LSE South Asia Centre. Bloomsbury Pakistan Review of the book. Book launch audio recording


Remembering Asma Jahangir with Prof Amartya Sen and I.A. Rahman. The event was organised in collaboration with LSE South Asia Centre on 21st June 2018 at Sheikh Zayd Lecture Theatre LSE. Audio recording of the event

Book Launch: Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia – An Intellectual History
Prof Tariq Rahman will speak on his book ‘Interpretations of Jihad in South Asia – An Intellectual History’. Dr Matthew Nelson will chair the book launch. The book focuses on the idea of jihad with its changing interpretations. The main thrust of the book is to understand how interpretations of jihad vary. Prof Francis Robinson wrote in his book review, ‘Rahman has investigated ideas of jihad in South Asia to a breadth and a depth rivalled by no other’, read the Book review published by Bloomsbury Pakistan. The book launch will take place on 31st July 2019 in collaboration with the SOAS Pakistan Society. More Details

Annual Bacha Khan Lectures 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
2023: Non Violence – A Way Forward to Sustainable Peace
Speakers: Mr Noor-ul-Amin Yousafzai. Chair: Dr Salman Khan. Introduction: Mr Ziauddin YousafzaiMore details
2022: 
Pashtun Women and Education Speakers: Dr Wiqar Ali Shah. Discussant: Dr James Caron. Chair: Dr Mukulika Banerjee. Introduction: Mr Ziauddin YousafzaiMore details and video
2021: Empire, Power and Resistance Speakers: Ms Sanna Ejaz and Dr Sanaa Alimia. Chair: Dr Mahvish Ahmad. Introduction: Mr Ziauddin Yousafzai More detail  and video
2020: Role of Civil Society and Women’s Rights Speakers: Mr Usman Ali Olasyar and Dr Mahvish Ahmad Chair: Dr James Caron Introduction: Mr Ziauddin Yousafzai More detail  and Video


Book Launch – The Fragrance of Tears, my friendship with Benazir Bhutto
Ms Victoria Schofield on her book ‘The Fragrance of Tears, my friendship with Benazir Bhutto’. Panellists: Mr Aitzaz Ahsan and Prof Salima Hashmi. Prof Stephen Lyon moderated the book launch held on 9 October 2020. More details  and  Video of the event

Economics Discussion Group: Government Budget and the Provinces’ Share (NFC award)
The discussion group on Pakistan’s economy is with Dr Asad Sayeed focused on the government budget and the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.  Dr Asad Sayeed is a non-statutory member of the National Finance Commission (NFC) from Sindh. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has conducted extensive research in the fields of macroeconomic policy, labour market dynamics in developing countries, poverty and social protection and political economy of corruption. The discussion group was held on 19th June 2019.

 

Annual Bacha Khan Lectures 2019, 2018, 2016
2019: Experiments with Education for Peace in Pakistan’s History. Speakers: Dr Khadim Husain and Mr Rahamat Shah Sayel Video
2018: Speaker: Mr Mohammad Iqbal Chair: Dr Mukulika Banerjee, Director of the Video 
2016 : The relevance of Bacha Khan and the non-violent Khudai Khidmatgar movement (1930-1947) in the contemporary world. Speaker: Dr Mukulika Banerjee, Chair: Dr James Caron, Introduction: Mr. Ziauddin Yousafzai Video

 

Book Launch: The Fix – Match Fixing and the Politics of Cricket.
The Fix is Omar Shahid Hamid’s fourth novel. His previous novels, The Prisoner and The Party Worker are bestsellers. Panellists: Kamila Shamsie, the renowned novelist, and Ali Bajwa QC, lawyer acted in Pakistan cricketers spot-fixing case. The event was organised in collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Society, it was held on 13th June 2019. More Details

Book Launch: The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack
H.M. Naqvi in conversation with Moni Mohsin. The Selected Works of Abdullah the Cossack is HM Naqvi’s second novel. His first novel, Home Boy was awarded the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature in 2011. Moni Mohsin is a renowned Pakistani novelist based in London. The event was held on 30th April 2019. More details

 

Conference: Education in Mother Tongue and the Punjabi Language
Bloomsbury Pakistan has partnered with LUMS for the conference on the benefits of Mother Tongue Education and Punjabi language script and its computational status. We have invited these experts to participate at the conference; Dr Tony Capstick (Reading University), Sharon Correll (SIL International, Texas), Dr Gurpreet Singh Lehal (Patiala University), Dr Harvinder Singh Bhatti (Punjab University, India) and from Pakistan Dr Tariq Rahman, Dr Zubeida Mustafa, Dr Sarmad Hussain. The conference will be held on 24th February 2019 in LUMS. More details

Discussion Group on Pakistan’s Economy with Prof Akbar Zaidi
Prof Akbar Zaidi is one of Pakistan’s prolific political economists. His research focuses on development, governance, and political economy in South Asia. Apart from his interest in political economy, he also has great interest in development, the social sciences more generally, and increasingly, in History. He is the author of numerous books. Held on 18th January 2019.


Book Launch: 
From Kargil to the Coup – Events that Shook Pakistan
Nasim Zehra’s book From Kargil to the Coup – Events that Shook Pakistan (2018) on 23rd Oct 2018. It’s a well researched and persuasively argued, the book is mandatory reading for students of international relations and South Asia. Moderator: Ms Victoria Schofield, renowned author of several books on Kashmir, India and Pakistan. Discussant: Dr Farooq Bajwa, renowned author on history of Pakistan’s foreign policy and on 1965 Pakistan India war. In collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Society. More Details

Discussion Group on Government Debt and External Sector Competitiveness of Pakistan
The discussion group on Pakistan’s economy with Dr Asad Sayeed was held on 4 October 2018. It focused on the government debt and the external sector competitiveness of Pakistan. Dr Asad Sayeed has done seminal work on industrial development in Pakistan which was his PhD research at Cambridge University during early 1990s. Since then he has conducted extensive research in the fields of macroeconomic policy, labor market dynamics in developing countries, poverty and social protection and political economy of corruption. He is a Senior Research Associate at the Collective for Social Science Research (CSSR), Karachi, Pakistan.

 


Seminar: General Elections in Pakistan 2018 and its Aftermath
Prof Mohammad Waseem is a Professor of Political Science at LUMS and has extensively published on electoral politics in Pakistan. Dr Adnan Qadir Khan is Director International Growth Centre, LSE. He has extensively published on wide range of areas such as tax reform in Pakistan, governance, local government, delivery of public services in Pakistan etc. Chaired by Dr David Taylor. The event was organised in collaboration with SOAS Pakistan Society on 31st July 2018. Audio will be uploaded. News Report

Workshop on Poverty in Pakistan
Dr Sohail Choudhry was awarded his PhD from the University of Oxford where he worked on ‘Shame, Social Exclusion and Effectiveness of Anti-poverty Programmes in Pakistan’ (Publication reference). His other team members extended the project to six other countries (Publication reference). Dr Sohail Chaudry is also a civil servant, now heading the Social Projection Authority Punjab Government. Discussants: Dr Adnan Khan is the Director of the International Growth Centre (IGC) at LSE. Arif Naveed is a co-author of the report on Geography of Poverty in Pakistan which projects the measurement and drivers of poverty on regional and individual district lines. (Postponed due to weather forecast)

Life and Times of Dr Abdus Salam – Nobel Laureate 1979
Dr Abdus Salam (1926-1996) was a physicist, he received Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. Prof Michael Duff and Dr Jonathan Butterworth will speak on the work of Dr Salam. Prof Duff worked closely with Dr. Salam at Imperial College London. He has also written books on Dr Abdus Salam. Prof. Jonathan Butterworth is the Head of the Physics and Astronomy Department at UCL. Dr Farid Panjwani chaired the seminar, he is a Senior Lecturer at IOE-UCL. The memorial seminar was held on 22nd February 2018 at UCL, it was organised in collaboration with the UCL Pakistan Society.
Download Powerpoint Presentation by Prof Michael Duff

Book Launch: Faith and Feminism in Pakistan
Dr Afiya Zia’s book Faith and Feminism in Pakistan: Religious Agency or Secular Autonomy (2018) on 15th May 2018.This book is essential reading for those interested in understanding the limits of Muslim women’s piety and the potential in their pursuit for secular autonomy and liberal freedoms. Dr Ramshi Verma will be the discussant. More details

The early British High Commission in Pakistan: its role and history
Prof Ian Talbot delivered the lecture. The literature on the legacies of Partition for Pakistan has overlooked the history of the creation of diplomatic embassies within the new country. In this talk, Professor Ian Talbot told the story of Britain’s early High Commissions and the difficulties that they faced. He examined the roles played by the first four British High Commissioners between 1947-65. Sir Nicholas Barrington chaired the lecture. The lecture was organised in collaboration with The Pakistan Society on Tuesday 23 January 2018. Event details

Panel on Development in Pakistan at the LSE Future of Pakistan Conference
Bloomsbury Pakistan organised the panel on Development in Pakistan in collaboration with the LSE  Future of Pakistan Conference held in November 2017. Dr Adnan Khan, Dr Atif Ansar and Dr Ismail Miftah were among the panellists. The discussion focused on the energy sector, CPEC and other areas of development in Pakistan. Video recording of the panel discussion.

 

Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) London edition was launched in partnership with Bloomsbury Pakistan at Southbank Centre as part of Alchemy festival on 20 May 2017, the programme included sixty-five speakers. The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), produced by the Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan, is Pakistan’s biggest literary event. It has been a resounding success since its launch in March 2010. The KLF is a reflection of Pakistan’s historical roots as expressed in a multiplicity of languages and in various forms of writing. The first of a kind in Pakistan, it is open to all and bring together authors writing in diverse languages and genres. They feature debates, discussions, lectures, mushaira, a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, comedy, satire, theatre, film screenings, music, and dance. KLF London 2017 Programme

Philosophy and thought of Allama Iqbal. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali in conversation with Prof. Javed Majeed. The public discussion is organised in collaboration with the South Asia Centre, LSE on the 27th of February 2017. Audio recording of the discussion


Freedom of Speech in Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan. In the aftermath of Mashal Khan’s killing by the mob in Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, Bloomsbury Pakistan organised the seminar, Prof Asad Ahmed and Dr Asad Sayeed were the speakers at the seminar.

A delegation of twenty-five Vice-Chancellors of various universities in Pakistan was hosted by Bloomsbury Pakistan. Dr David Taylor and Dr Farid Panjwani gave lectures on the higher education in UK and Pakistan. The lectures focused on capacity building and long-term vision for the higher education in Pakistan and the lessons to be learnt from UK Higher Education. Download PowerPoint Presentation by Dr Farid Panjwani

Discussion group with Prof. Kamran Asdar Ali on his book ‘Communism in Pakistan: Politics and Class Activism 1947-72’ published by OUP Pakistan in 2015, the international edition is published by I.B.Tauris. Prof. Amin Mughal is the discussant. Video recording of the discussion.

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Panel Discussion on Honour Killings in Pakistan. Dr. Nafisa Shah MNA and Mr. Salman Raja analysed the legal, political and social anthropology perceptive of honour killings on Wednesday 27th July 2016. Dr. Nafisa Shah has done PhD on Honour Killings at the University of Oxford. The Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan is publishing her book ‘Honour Unmasked’ which is based on her PhD research. Review of Nafisa Shah’s book on Honour Killing

Screening of the film: Jago Hua Savera (Day Shall Dawn 1958), story by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Nauman Taseer Foundation sponsored the screening. BBC Article on Jago Hua Savera and The Guardian article on Jago Hua Savera published on the day of screening.

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Panel Discussion: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A fate-changer? with Dr. Daanish Mustafa,  Dr. Haider Shah and Mr. Rafiullah Kakar
Download PowerPoint Presentation by Dr Haider Shah
Download PowerPoint Presentation by Mr. Rafiullah Kakar

Discussion with Dr. Marie Lall on her paper”Engaging the youth – citizenship and political participation in Pakistan” (2014) Commonwealth & Comparative Politics Volume 52, Issue 4.

The discussion was organised  with Dr. Asad Sayeed on his publications ”Institutional Basis of Militancy in Tribal Areas of Pakistan” published in the book Civil Wars in South Asia: State, Sovereignty, Development (2014) and his forthcoming publication on militancy in Swat. The report based on discussion in the workshop
Pashto translation of the report

Bloomsbury Pakistan May Day discussion group: A discussion with Dr. Kamal Munir was held on his paper ‘The Abject Condition of Labor in Pakistan: A Report from the Field’ forthcoming in International Labor and Working Class History. Please send us comments on the paper.

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Panel Discussion with Kashmiri academics on recent state violence in Kashmir. Chair: Ms. Victoria Schofield, Panellists: Prof. Dibyesh Anand, Dr. Nitasha Kaul and Ms. Mehroosh Tak. Audio recording of the panel discussion.

Bloomsbury Pakistan had a study group with Haris Gazdar. It focused on (i) Scholarly work and political engagement (ii) The decline of left in Pakistan. A write up on the discussion on scholarly work and political engagement

Discussion Group on ”Language, Identity and Politics in Pakistan”. Dr. Tariq Rahman is also a member of the Academic Advisory Board of Bloomsbury Pakistan. Download PowerPoint Presentation

Bloomsbury Pakistan organised a discussion with Farooq Sulehria on his PhD paper ”Media imperialism in the age of globalisation: The case of India and Pakistan.” The abstract of the paper.

Bloomsbury Pakistan held a workshop with Arif Hasan on Social Change in Pakistan. The report based on discussion in the workshop.  Sindhi translation of the report

Discussion group with Dr. Adnan Qadir on his publication ”Breaking the countercyclical pattern of local democracy in Pakistan’

Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi on ”Pakistan’s Ahmadi Problem: History and Politics”.  The discussion was based on his book ”The Ahmadis and the Politics of Religious Exclusion in Pakistan” published in 2014. A related paper published by Dr. Qasmi on the subject; ”Pakistan’s Ahmadi Religious Minority: Attacked, Impoverished and Ghettoized”.

Bloomsbury Pakistan had a meeting with Dr. Akbar Zaidi. Dr. Zaidi’s research focuses on development, governance, and political economy in South Asia. The objectives of Bloomsbury Pakistan were discussed in the meeting. He also updated the group members on recent developments in academic research and activism in Pakistan.

Mera Payam Aur (My Message is Unique) The Group organised a one day symposium on Iqbal at the University of Oxford. Prof. David Matthews, Dr Keith Ward, Dr Yahya Michot, Dr. Salman Asif, Dr Homa Katouzian and other academics participated in the symposium. Dr. Keith Ward gave the keynote speech. The display of actual verse accompanied by the translation by Fasi Zaka, synchronized with the rendition by Syed Ali Abbas, gripped the audience’s attention. Read more.

Documentary Screening: The Sorrow and Joy – Remembering Hussein’s Martyrdom in Hyderabad, Pakistan. The documentary shows regional music, drumming and bodily performances during the 10-day ritual observances of Hussein’s martyrdom. It is written, directed and produced by Ashok Kumar, he is an anthropologist.

Bloomsbury Pakistan facilitated Gallup Pakistan’s survey to assess the demand for tourism to the Sikh religious sites in Punjab, Pakistan. It’s the World Bank and the Government of Punjab research project to increase Sikh tourism. The Questionnaire was completed by the participants. The report was completed by the Gallop Pakistan.