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You are viewing the 2025 version of this conference format. Go back to 2026
habib University Logo
You are viewing the 2025 version of this conference format. Go back to 2026

Conference Overview

The inaugural Imagining Futures Conference, held from July 31 to August 4, 2025, set a benchmark for collaborative knowledge exchange and action at Habib University. Over the five days, it convened a diverse community of leading academics, policymakers, practitioners, students, and community stakeholders from across Pakistan, engaging with an estimated footfall of 250-300 individuals each day.

Conference highlights included: 4 high-level plenary sessions with 16 guest speakers from academia, government, and development sector discussing urgent themes such as climate change, social equity, human rights, and governance; 4 expert-led roundtables co-hosted by LUMS/IDEAS, CERP, Shehri, and OTL that focused on actionable, context-specific solutions; and 10 thematic sessions featuring 36 peer-reviewed research projects and media submissions on critically relevant themes.

It also featured 3 different showcases: the intervention showcase highlighted 23 field-based projects from a variety of organizations; the media showcase screened 10 creative works including 8 documentaries, 1 long-form journalism piece, and 1 photo-essay; and the poster showcase displayed 29 research projects.

The Policy Hackathon engaged close to 100 students attempting to address issues within the broad themes of climate change, education, and healthcare. IFC 2025 was distinguished by its commitment to actionable research, partnership-building, and focus on localized and action-oriented approach. The reflective keynote featured two remarkable individuals who exemplified grassroot activism and dedication towards social change: Ms Sumera Mehboob from Balochistan whose work is centered around female empowerment through education, and Mr Hazer Gul from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who focuses on labor laws and elimination of bonded labor.

For details about the agenda and different segments of the inaugural conference,
please visit this brief.

Imagining Futures: Social Equity in South Asia

Background

South Asia is home to over a quarter of the world’s population and faces persistent challenges related to gender inequality, social exclusion, and economic vulnerability (Asian Development Bank, 2023). Similarly, Pakistan grapples with a range of developmental challenges, with a significant portion of the population living below the poverty line (World Bank, 2024). Weak governance structures and political instability further impact macroeconomic stability. Additionally, Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions globally (UN Habitat, 2023), despite contributing minimally to carbon emissions.

Addressing these challenges requires a commitment to knowledge production and innovative problem-solving. As a leading institution of higher education, Habib University plays a crucial role in fostering a vibrant research culture that encourages collaboration between students and faculty. Undergraduate students actively engage in scholarly activities, developing essential skills for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision-making. By embedding research within its curriculum, the University ensures that students are equipped to address real-world challenges with sustainable, impactful solutions. Moreover, faculty members integrate research into their pedagogy, contributing to academic discourse through courses, seminars, and conferences.

It is within this context that the Imagining Futures Conference is conceptualized. More than just a formal gathering, it seeks to cultivate a movement that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and tangible social change. By bringing together scholars, researchers, and policymakers, the conference aims to leverage research for evidence-based policymaking and develop a research agenda that drives meaningful transformation.

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Conference
Schedule

  • Submission Deadline Icon

    May 15, 2025

    Submission Deadline
  • Venue Icon

    Habib University

    Venue
  • Conference Dates Icon

    August 1-4, 2025

    Conference Dates

Conference Format

Thematic Panels

Thematic Panels

These sessions will feature presentations from researchers, grounded in completed or ongoing research projects on related themes. The focus will be on key findings, methodology, and implications of the research. Pre-assigned discussants will lead the discussion and provide feedback, before opening up the floor to the audience.

Plenary Sessions

Plenary Sessions

These sessions will feature experienced academics and practitioners coming together for an intellectual discourse on a common theme. These discussions will draw on both academic research and practical field experience to contextualise the urgent issues faced today, and to chart a way forward for future research and collaborations.

Intervention Showcase

Intervention Showcase

This showcase will feature field-based projects led by researchers, development agencies, or government bodies. The goal is to raise awareness about the practical work being done in the field, outline challenges, brainstorm next steps, and to explore collaborations for resource sharing and empirical research on the projects.

Media Showcase

Media Showcase

This showcase will feature a curated selection of urgent issues grounded in ethical research-based stories in the form of documentaries, photo essays, and longform journalism. These may be presented as a panel or a visual showcase allowing for a deeper conversation, depending on the nature of the submission itself.

Poster Presentations

Poster Presentations

This format invites a visual display of completed or ongoing research projects being undertaken by undergraduate and graduate students. Posters will be displayed for a wide audience and facilitate informal, one-on-one conversations about the projects. In addition to dissemination, presenters will also benefit from feedback on their work.

Workshops

Workshops

A variety of workshops will be offered at the conference to enable capacity building and promote continued learning for different audiences: students, academics, and practitioners. The topics will include specific research methods as well as broader research questions or policy considerations for social equity in South Asia.

Policy Hackathon

Policy Hackathon

The Hackathon is a simulation-based competition hosted for students to raise awareness and promote research and critical thinking.

Roundtables

Roundtables

Roundtable sessions at the Imagining Futures Conference are structured as focused, participatory conversations that bring together a diverse mix of stakeholders to address well-defined challenges related to social equity.

Contact

Please reach out to us