Imagining Futures Conference 2026

Theme 1

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#1A333E

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#53666E

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#B8BDBF

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#D9D9D9

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#545454

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#E29728

Theme 2

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#422A44

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#503352

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#604662

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#DAD9DA

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#C7DFD1

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#164744

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#15675E

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#107769

Theme 3

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#5C2568

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#e5a33e

Conference Overview

The second iteration of the Imagining Futures Conference will take place from August 7 to 10, at Habib University in Karachi to continue the critical discussion on the broad theme of Social Equity in South Asia.

A systemic and systematic overhaul may be necessary to bring about meaningful and lasting social change, and thus, IFC 2026 seeks to build on the momentum of the inaugural conference to continue exploring localised and action-oriented solutions. The future is again defined as the next 1-3 years so that the discourse is anchored and actionable as opposed to being overly aspirational and theoretical.

IFC 2026 aims to deconstruct issues, better understand nuances, explore possible solutions, and make plans of action. The goal is to promote action research and evidence-based policymaking. Therefore, the conference, imagined in the broadest sense of the word, will serve as a starting point to discuss these issues and to develop a research and policy agenda for the next year.

Imagining Futures: Social Equity in South Asia

South Asia is home to over a quarter of the world’s population. It faces persistent challenges related to gender inequality, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability (Asian Development Bank, 2023). Pakistan, similarly, faces a variety of challenges across all sectors of development, worsened by disproportionate impacts for the large segment of the population living under the poverty line (World Bank, 2024). Weak governance structures and political uncertainty significantly impact macroeconomic stability across the country. Pakistan is also one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change (UN Habitat, 2023), despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions.

It is against this backdrop that the Imagining Futures conference was conceptualized. The inaugural iteration held in 2025 sought to move beyond the typical academic format and instead envisioned it as a conference in the broadest possible scope, emulating a movement that goes beyond the limits of a formal gathering. By serving as a convening space for diverse stakeholders—academics, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders—it aimed to enable research that informs practice and drives context-specific solutions. IFC 2025 combined the role of a platform for dialogue on social equity in Pakistan, and the broader South Asia, to that of a catalyst for long-term, cross-sectoral collaborations. It brought together academics, practitioners, activists, politicians, bureaucrats, students, and community stakeholders to examine and respond to urgent challenges related to social equity. In doing so, the conference sought to connect research with implementation and foster partnerships that extend beyond a single event.

The theme of the conference is set broadly around social equity. This includes many sub-themes, including, but not limited to:

1. Access to Digital Systems and Cybersecurity
2. Data Equity, Ethical Use of AI, and Technological Inclusion
3. Disaster Preparedness and Management
4. Economy, Labour, and Development
5. Ecosystems and Environment

6. Education, Knowledge, and Learning Systems
7. Food Systems and Agriculture
8. Health, Wellness, and Nutrition
9. Human Rights, Resistance, and Social Movements
10. Urban Systems, Infrastructure, and Mobility

We welcome interdisciplinarity and research employing rigorous qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods, encouraging diversity in approaches, lenses, and cross-sectional focus, including, but not limited to: