By Hooria Butt and Ehsan Ahmed Khan
Lahore: (May 12, 2018): An international Pakistan Future: Imagination, Impact & Dialogue held with the collaboration of Arizona State University and The University of Punjab at Avari Hotel Lahore. This is a two day conference and Saturday was the first day of the conference. Conference started at 10:30 with the opening remarks of Dr. Yasmin Saikia and Dean Kristin Gilger both from Arizona State University.
Welcoming Remarks were given by Prof. Dr. M. Zakria Zakar ( University of the Punjab ), Michael Guinan (U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Public Affairs office) and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nizamuddin( Punjab Higher Education Commission). Dr. Chad Haines address the audience on Pakistan Futures: Placing Local Knowledge in Global Dialogues. Ahmad Rashid (Journalist and Best-Selling author) talked about the Democratic Futures: The Roots of Extremism in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The first session was all about Thinking Beyond Mass Mediated Spectacle and Deliberative Public Sphere and Dr. Bushra and Dr. Abida Eijaz gave presentation on it. Salma Laleka presented on The Future of Pakistan and Shackles of Intellectual Enslavement.
In second session there were 2 presentations. First one was on Caste and Identity in Contemporary Rural Pakistan by Dr. Ahmad Usman. Second one was presented by Fahad Mahmood on Social Media as an Opportunity Imagined by Pakistani Youth to Engage Themselves in Policy Debates for future. Third session was on The Role of Free Speech in University Public Life by Dr. Bill Silcock and Dr. Joseph Russomanno. The ending session for toad was about Information and Anti-American Attitudes by Chad Haines and Dr. Basit Zafar.