KARACHI: IBA Karachi hosted ThinkFest on Campus at its Main Campus, bringing academic and policy discussions directly to students and giving young people a platform to learn, engage and contribute to their personal and national development. Opening the event, Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Dean of the School of Economics & Social Sciences and founder of ThinkFest, said the initiative was designed to bring “top class conversations” directly to the youth of Pakistan, whom he described as the future of the country.
Students engage with major issues
The event featured four sessions that covered history, law, identity, media representation and minority rights. The first session included Professor Megan Robb of the University of Pennsylvania, who spoke about the story of Sharaf un Nissa and examined themes of family, religion and identity across India and England. The discussion set the tone for a programme that aimed to connect students with wide-ranging ideas and debates beyond the classroom.
Law, Identity and Representation
The second panel brought together Professor Justin Jones of Oxford, lawyer Sara Malkani and development specialist Nazish Brohi to discuss child marriage in Pakistan. Their conversation focused on legislative progress, continuing challenges and legal complexities surrounding the issue. A later session featuring Professor Sunera Thobani examined how Muslims are portrayed in Indian cinema, with attention to stereotyping and Islamophobia. The final session centered on Peter Jacob’s documentary A Separation Refused, which highlighted the struggle for joint electorates and minority representation in Pakistan. Dr Riaz Sheikh, Dean of Social Sciences at SZABIST, reflected on its importance for human rights advocacy.
According to the event details, the four sessions drew over 600 students, including more than 100 participants from outside IBA. The turnout suggested strong student interest in policy and social issues, as well as the appeal of bringing established scholars and practitioners into direct contact with young audiences.
IBA signals wider academic role
Dr Bangash concluded the event by reaffirming IBA’s commitment to fostering dialogue on important national and societal issues. By hosting ThinkFest on campus, the institution positioned itself as a venue not only for teaching, but also for broader civic discussion on questions affecting Pakistan’s future.
