In Conversation...

By harnessing the power of culture and art, countries can build bridges, foster cooperation and promote peace and understanding in an increasingly interconnected world. These intangible ambassadors of national identity have long been recognized as essential components, playing a vital role in shaping international relations and diplomacy...

Drawing on her own vast experience, Dr. Maliha Lodhi -in conversation with Dr. Dushka Saiyid- will discuss the role of soft power in diplomacy and how a country can use culture, art and other sources of persuasive attraction to further foreign policy goals.

• Dr Maleeha Lodhi has served as Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. She twice served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US (1993 – 1996, 1999 – 2002) and as High Commissioner to Britain (2003 – 2008). She also served as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Affairs from 2001 to 2005. In 1994 Time magazine nominated her as one of a hundred people in the world who will help shape the 21st century. She is the recipient of the President’s award of Hilal-e-Imtiaz for Public Service in Pakistan. The author of two books: ‘Pakistan’s Encounter with Democracy’ and ‘The External Challenge’ she has also edited two books ‘Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State’ and 'Pakistan's Search for Stability’. An Urdu translation of a collection of her columns was also published as a book recently titled ' Pakistan: Between crisis and hope’.
• Dr. Dushka H. Saiyid received her Doctorate degree from Columbia University New York in South Asian History. She has served as Professor and Chairperson, Department of History, Quaid-i-Azam University, The author of two books ‘Muslim Women of the British Punjab: From Seclusion to Politics’ and ‘Exporting Communism to India, Why Moscow Failed’, she has published numerous research articles in national and international academic journals . She is the editor of Youlin/Good Neighbours (a monthly cultural magazine) and www.youlinmagazine.com (a bilingual Chinese/English website).
• In collaboration with Serena Hotel, Islamabad

Day trip/ Hike

Foreigners: Please check need for NOC from your organisations.
Alberuni in his travelogue “Kitab ul Hind” has mentioned the legendry ‘Tilla Jogian’ (Peak of Jogis) near Jhelum as the center of Jogis (Ascetics). This centuries old monastery of Jogis was in existence when Alexander the great fought the famous battle with Raja Porus near this ‘Tilla’ in 326 BC. It has also been known as ‘Tilla Gorakh Nath’ and ‘Tilla Bal Nath’ at different times. The remnants of the monastery and shrine still exist like a big pond with balconies, masonry tombs, places for meditation, and banyan trees among others...
Tilla Jogian is the highest peak in the Salt Range 3200 feet above sea level. It offers a panoramic view of the Potohar plateau and splendid scenic beauty throughout the trip. We will travel on the G T road and then about 35km off-G T road to reach (via Domaili & Gattat villages) at the village ‘Bheet’ located at the base of Tilla Jogian mountain. One-way travel time is about one and a half hour or slightly more. The hill is quite steep and after a maximum one & half hour’s moderate to strenuous hike, we shall reach at the top of hill.

Film: L'insulte / The Insult (2017) - Lebanon / France

Language: Arabic with English subtitles

Director: Ziad Doueri / Screenplay: Ziad Doueri & Joelle Touma

Awards: Academy Award Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film

Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha, Camille Salameh, Diamand Abou Abboud, Rita Hayek

The film was nominated for an Oscar, the first from Lebanon.

A powerful film is inspired by the Lebanese Civil War, it speaks a universal truth about humans who- in the absence of a sense of closure- are unable to control their political hatred and prejudice which continues to grow and fester in their souls. The film also shows the positive and modern emergence of empowered womanhood in the mainly patriarchal Middle East.

The story, set in Beirut, could apply to any neighborhood of the globe dealing with prejudice and hatred. A minor altercation between two men - a Christian and a Palestinian refugee - escalates gradually from a single slur (the "insult") to a physical assault to more heated words involving racial prejudice which result in two heated court sessions. The matter then moves from physical skirmishes between people attending the trial to outright riots in the streets of Beirut. The high profile trial becomes less about the insult and bodily injury and more about a nation in the grip of a deep rooted morass gestating within like a festering wound which erupts time and again with violence.

Although the film has a rather simplistic ending - imploring to move on and find a way to make mutually respectable peace and not allow wounds to fester - it still manages to provide good drama and an important message nonetheless.

• In collaboration with Alliance Francais d' Islamabad

Subtitled: English

Looking for an escape, a clown dances outside a fast- food restaurant on the streets of Lahore, that is until the claws of reality threaten to pull it's mask off...‘The Clown’ (2024) a Pakistani Short Film won the Satyajit Ray Award for Best Short Film at the London Indian Film Festival 2024.

Written and directed by Kamil Chima, the film is a pacy exploration of the life of a clown on the streets of Lahore, and an ode to those that remain hidden in plain sight. He has previously produced ‘Laal Kabootar' (2019)- Pakistan's official selection for the Academy Awards 2020- and 'The Queen of My Dreams' in (2023). The film is the acting debut for Coke Studio starrer Farheen Raza Jaffry. The cast includes debutant Muhammad Saeed Cheema, Sheherzade Peerzada and Adeel Afzal. It is produced by Mahnoor Zaidi and Jaber Hussain.

This will also be an opportunity to meet the Director and some of the cast members!

Kamil cheema is a producer, writer and director. An alum of the IFFR Producers Lab 2023 and the Producers Network at the Marche Du Film de Cannes 2023, he has set up Nehr Ghar films, a film production company based out of Pakistan. 'The Clown' (2024) is Kamils directorial debut short film.

• In collaboration with Alliance Francais d' Islamabad

In preparation for the Islamic holy month of Ramzan/Ramadan we will be introduced to the very special menu for Sehri (Sunrise: begining of day fast) & Iftar (Sunset:end of fast). Most dishes can be served both times.
The menu will include:
Starters: Dates, Dhahi Bhale, Bhel Puri, Aaloo Piyaz Pakoray, Aaloo Cholay, Samosas;

Main: Special Bhori Fried Chicken , Lagan Seekh, Chicken Biryani, Khichra Haleem and different types of 'chatni’'

Desserts & Drinks: Daal Halwa. Saboodana Special, Gur Pani Jasmine sherbats.
In addition to the above , there will be a demonstration of a healthy pancake with vegetables & also a granola bar full of nuts for energy!

Shah Allah Ditta caves and few more miles up to the Losar Baoli are two historic sites in the Margalla Hills

Archaeological evidence indicates that the caves and the platform-like formations surrounding the area were first used for meditation by Buddhist monks and later by Hindu sadhus before Muslim ascetics took over during the Mughal period.

Marked on the ground close to the caves the location where Alexander arrived and was received by Raja Ambi, King of Taxila. The road next to the caves that leads to the main top of the mountain, Shah Allah Ditta road, is said to be built on the exact path followed by Pashtun emperor Sher Shah Suri during his visit.

Moving up the mountain from the caves, there is a stepwell called Losar Baoli. The Baoli is thought to have been constructed by the Emperor Sher Shah Suri in order to facilitate the caravans moving towards Kabul via Taxila. The Ride is a slightly tough but very scenic on the uphill stretch towards Losar Baoli.

Those who do not want to attempt the last uphill part can wait or return from the Shah Allah Ditta caves. Do inform the coordinators if you are turning back!

In a landmark decision, the Islamabad High Court shut down the Islamabad Zoo in 2020, paving the way for a revolutionary transformation. The former zoo was reborn as a Wildlife Rescue & Rehab Centre, providing a lifeline for poached, injured, and orphaned wildlife across Pakistan. From majestic black bears, leopards, lions, and tigers to monkeys, pangolins, kites, owls, porcupines, and freshwater turtles, the Centre has rescued over 300 animals and birds since 2020.

Join us for a screening of a very special short documentary that takes you on a heartwarming journey, showcasing the remarkable stories of rescued wildlife in Pakistan. From abuse to love and care, follow the transformative paths of these incredible animals as they find solace and rehabilitation at IWMB's pioneering rescue centre - the only one of its kind in Pakistan. The documentary also highlight the selfless dedication of the centre's caregivers and the resilience of these remarkable creatures.

The screening wull be followed by an interactive session with the filmmaker. This is your chance to delve deeper into the stories and themes presented in the film, and ask questions about the making of the documentary and the incredible work of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board's Rescue & Rehab Centre.

• Muhammad Ali Ijaz is an award-winning Pakistani filmmaker and media communication specialist. His work focuses on stories from Pakistan that lie at the intersection of wildlife conservation, ecology, and culture.
• In collaboration with Alliance Francais d' Islamabad

Generations of Mughal women played a crucial role, alongside the Great Mughal emperors, in transforming South Asia into the superpower of its time, the epitome of cultural refinement and a beacon of pluralism- their record has few parallels in world history...Join us for this fascinating presentation that explores the lives of the magnificent women of the Mughal dynasty!

Debunking old colonial narratives, recent scholarship has begun to uncover the multifaceted contributions of these highly educated, powerful women. These extraordinary women served as governors, diplomats, chief advisors, and Sufi guides; they were scholars and masters of martial arts, while also excelling as connoisseurs and patrons of the arts, including architecture, poetry, calligraphy, culinary arts, and haute couture fashion.

Guest Presenter: Zeenut Ziad-by profession- is a mathematician and an economist from the London School of Economics; and a specialist of Mughal history by passion. Amazingly, she has built two high-profile careers. Her first career saw her teaching economics at the University of Karachi, becoming the first woman executive in Pakistani banking, and serving as a consultant for the World Bank. Her passion for South Asian history, especially the Mughal period, led her to a second professional path. She organized a highly successful lecture series at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, on the Mughal Empire, which led to her first book, The Magnificent Mughals (2003). In 2011, she co-edited Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East in collaboration with Dr. Reza Aslan.

Ms. Ziad has taught courses on Mughal history at George Mason University and American University, Washington DC and lectured at many educational institutions. She was actively involved in Muslim advocacy and interfaith work and cultural projects in the US for more than two decades.

Pakistani cuisine can be characterized as a blend of regional cooking styles and flavours from across South, Central and West Asia. It also maintains certain Mughal influences within its recipes and cooking techniques. It’s ethnic and cultural diversity, diverse climates, geographical environments, and availability of different produce lead to diverse regional cuisines.

Ever wondered what a traditional Pakistani breakfast/brunch is like? Join us for this very special food tasting foray in the hospitable ambiance of a private home!

The mouth watering menu will include:

• Qeema (a special dish of minced meat)
• Nihari ( the perfect breakfast beef meat concoction for wintry days )
• ‘Pakistani’ version of omelettes served with different Parathas ( a layered flatbread exclusive to the Subcontinent-with different fillings: radish/ potato etc.)
• Poori also spelled as Puri (Small portions of unleavened dough is rolled to small discs and deep fried in hot oil. A perfectly made puri puffs as soon as it hits the hot oil!)
• Served with Channa Alu (Chick peas and potato mix) and Suji halwaa ( A delicious semolina dessert)
• and then to digest all this soul satisfying session - Doodh Patti Chai ( Mixed tea with milk and cardamom)..

Our very gracious host - Anisa A. Rehman Quraishi- with expertise in Pakistani, Arabic, Chinese and European cuisines,has earned her name in catering for exclusive private events in Islamabad.

Director: James Ivory / Screenplay: Ruth Prawar Jhabvalla - based on her book.

Awards: British Academy Award: Adapted Screenplay

Cast: Julie Christie, Greta Scacchi, Shashi Kapoor, Christopher Cazenove, Nickolas Grace, Jennifer Kendal, Julian Glover, Susan Fleetwood, Madhur Jaffrey, Zakir Hussain, Ratna Pathak Shah, Patrick Godfrey, Barry Foster.

Heat and Dust is a 1983 British historical romantic drama film with a screenplay by Ruth Prawaer Jhabvala based on her novel by the same name (written in 1975). The film formed part of a cycle of productions which emerged during the first half of the 1980s, reflecting Britain's growing interest in the British Raj. It moves effortlessly between the past and the present examining two very different women both of whom ultimately take the same route.

In 1982, an Englishwoman named Anne (Julie Christie) begins an investigation into the fate of her great-aunt Olivia (Greta Scacchi) whose letters and the diary she has inherited. Anne's search brings her to India, where the story of Olivia's life is told in flashbacks. The plot follows two intertwined stories. The first is set in British India of the 1920s, and deals with an illicit affair between Olivia, the beautiful young wife of a British Colonial official, and an Indian Nawab. The second, set in 1982, deals with Anne, Olivia's great-niece, who travels to India, hoping to find out about her great-aunt's life, and while there, gets involved herself with a married Indian man…

The Merchant-Ivory team - American director James Ivory and Bombay born producer Ismail Merchant - bring Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's "Booker" prize winning novel to the big screen. An impecably produced film with superb costumes, sets, a memorable score by Richard Robbins and dazzling cinematography by Walter Lassally.This was Merchant-Ivory's first film made on a lavish scale (though on a still fairly limited budget) and proved to be a springboard in helping them on to bigger budgets and far more acclaim with their adaptations of Henry James, E. M. Forster, Evan S. Connell, Edward Albee and Kazuo Ishiguro- all of which soon followed this success.