KARACHI, September 29, 2026: The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi hosted ThinkFest on Campus at its Main Campus, bringing academic and policy discussions directly to students and creating a platform for young people to engage with issues related to society, identity, law and human rights.
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 high-quality conversations to Pakistan’s youth and enable them to learn, engage and apply those insights to their personal and national development.
The first session featured Professor Megan Robb of the University of Pennsylvania, who discussed the story of Sharaf-un-Nissa, examining themes of family, religion and identity across India and England.
The second panel focused on child marriage in Pakistan and featured Professor Justin Jones of Oxford, lawyer Sara Malkani and development specialist Nazish Brohi. The discussion examined legislative developments, continuing challenges and legal complexities surrounding the issue.
In another session, Professor Sunera Thobani explored the representation of Muslims in Indian cinema, including issues surrounding stereotyping and Islamophobia.
The final session focused on Peter Jacob’s documentary A Separation Refused, which examines the struggle for joint electorates and minority representation in Pakistan. Dr. Riaz Sheikh, Dean of Social Sciences at SZABIST, discussed the documentary’s significance in the context of human rights advocacy.
The four sessions attracted more than 600 students, including over 100 participants from outside IBA.
Concluding the event, Dr. Bangash reaffirmed IBA’s commitment to promoting dialogue and encouraging students to engage with important national and societal issues.