The plenary sessions at the Imagining Futures Conference convene leading voices from academia, policy, practice, and civil society to engage in broad, cross-sectoral dialogue on the region’s most pressing social challenges. Anchored in key thematic areas, these high-level sessions focus on structural issues, lived experiences, and institutional responses. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, these discussions move beyond diagnosis to critically reflect on current conditions, highlight overlooked gaps, and explore grounded, collaborative pathways for action and reform.
This session will examine how climate change is reshaping urban spaces in South Asia. The conversation will explore the governance and planning failures that lead to the proliferation of informal settlements, the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather events on the urban poor, and the long-term implications for climate justice. A key focus will be on identifying opportunities for integrating climate resilience into urban development policy, particularly in low-income contexts like Pakistan.
Speakers:
Moderator: Syeda Mehwish Zara Zaidi (Associate Professor of Practice, Communication and Design)
This session will focus on the sectors of health and education to unpack the deep-rooted inequities in access and quality across Pakistan and the broader South Asian region. It will reflect on interventions being carried out by the state, development partners, and community-based models that can help address persistent gaps in public service delivery. The session will also examine what it would take to build social infrastructure that is inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to local needs.
Speakers:
Moderator: Uswa Ali Memon (Dean's Fellow, Social Development and Policy, Habib University)
This session will offer a critical reflection on the current state of legal protections and constitutional guarantees in Pakistan, with a focus on civil liberties and access to justice. It will explore where gaps exist in legal frameworks, and how they can be strengthened for improved access and efficacy. From legal literacy to community-led advocacy, the session will highlight the role of active citizen participation in advancing justice, equity, and democratic accountability.
Speakers:
Moderator: Kaiser Ishaque (Assistant Resident Representative, Democratic Governance Unit, UNDP Pakistan)
This session will focus on governance and public policy by bringing together public service officials alongside other key stakeholders, including academics, researchers, and representatives from civil society and the development sector. It will reflect on the structural and institutional challenges that hinder effective governance in Pakistan and examine how collaboration across sectors can improve public service delivery and citizens’ quality of life. As the closing session, it will tie together the sectoral and thematic discussions under the broader umbrella of inclusive and coordinated policy action for the future.
Speakers:
Moderator: Mariya Karimjee (Assistant Professor of Practice, Communication and Design, Habib University)
