Lahore Arts Council Alhamra set to host ninth edition of Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest

Wasif Mahmood

Lahore:The Lahore Arts Council Alhamra is set to host the ninth edition of Afkar e Taza ThinkFest, one of Pakistan’s most prominent intellectual and cultural festivals, bringing together leading thinkers, scholars, policymakers, artists, and activists from Pakistan and around the world.

The festival will open with a specially curated exhibition, “Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Toshakhana,” offering audiences a rare visual and historical experience.

Over the course of the festival, more than forty thought-provoking sessions will explore some of the most pressing global and national issues of our time, including geopolitics, climate change, global inequality, education, media, democracy, taxation, artificial intelligence, gender, literature, history, and cultural resistance.

ThinkFest will feature renowned international scholars such as Thomas Piketty, Vali Nasr, Zeinab Badawi, Julia Cage, and other global voices, alongside leading Pakistani intellectuals, policymakers, journalists, academics, and civil society figures.

Key discussions will focus on Pakistan’s place in a changing world order, conflicts in the Middle East, relations between major global powers, climate governance, higher education, media polarization, and economic justice.

In addition to panel discussions, the festival will host multiple book launch ceremonies, showcasing new works on war, law, society, history, and Pakistan’s global engagement.

Cultural highlights include music performances, a film festival presented in collaboration with international partners, and a vibrant exhibition space featuring cultural, educational, and food stalls.

Special emphasis has been placed on youth engagement, making ThinkFest a unique platform for young people to interact directly with global thinkers and national leaders. Sessions on skills development, science diplomacy, technology, sustainability, and creative expression aim to inspire critical thinking and informed dialogue among emerging generations.

With its blend of rigorous intellectual debate, cultural expression, and global perspectives, ThinkFest Afkar-e-Tazacontinues to strengthen its reputation as a landmark forum for ideas in Pakistan. Afkar e Taza ThinkFest invites students, scholars, artists, and the wider public to participate in this celebration of knowledge, dialogue, and cultural exchange.