IBA hosted ThinkFest on Campus at the Main Campus, bringing high-quality
academic and policy discourse directly to students and providing a platform for the youth to learn, engage,
and contribute to their personal and national development.
Opening the event, Dr. Yaqoob Khan Bangash, Dean, School of Economics & Social Sciences and Founder,
ThinkFest, stated that this new initiative brings the top class conversations directly to the youth of
Pakistan—the future of the country, so that they are able to learn, engage and then use it for the
development of their own self and country. The first session featured Professor Megan Robb from the
University of Pennsylvania, who discussed the story of Sharaf un Nissa, exploring themes of family, religion,
and identity across India and England.
The second panel, featuring Professor Justin Jones from Oxford; Lawyer, Sara Malkani, and Development
Specialist, Nazish Brohi, discussed child marriage in Pakistan, focusing on legislative progress, continuing
challenges, and legal complexities. A subsequent session featuring Professor Sunera Thobani examined the
portrayal of Muslims in Indian cinema and issues of stereotyping and Islamophobia.
The final session centered on Peter Jacob’s documentary, A Separation Refused, highlighting the struggle for
joint electorates and minority representation in Pakistan. Dr. Riaz Sheikh, Dean of Social Sciences – SZABIST,
reflected on its significance for human rights advocacy.
The four sessions drew over 600 students, including more than 100 participants from outside IBA.
Concluding the event, Dr. Bangash reaffirmed IBA’s commitment to fostering dialogue on important national and societal issues.
