Celebrating Literature, Culture & Dialogue
Join us for two days of intellectual discussions, poetry, art, and music. Featuring renowned diplomats, writers, poets, and artists from Pakistan and the USA.
Guest of Honor
H.E. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh
Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States of America
Event Registration & Tickets
Day 1: Sessions Registration Day 1: Dinner & Music Tickets Day 2: Full Day RegistrationVenue: Ismaili Jamatkhana
9550 Harlem Rd, Richmond, TX 77407
Time: 09:00 am - 10:45 pm
Register for Day 1 Sessions
09:00 am
Registration & Social Hour
10:00 am
Inauguration Ceremony & Opening Session
Welcome Address: Faisal Momin (President Ismaili Council)
Introductory Remarks: Ghazanfar Hashmi (President/CEO IAL USA)
Chief Guest Remarks: H.E. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh (Pakistan Ambassador)
Introductory Remarks: Ghazanfar Hashmi (President/CEO IAL USA)
Chief Guest Remarks: H.E. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh (Pakistan Ambassador)
11:00 am - Session 2
Pakistani Diaspora: In Search of Identity and Legacy
Panelists: Dr. Asaf Qadeer, Siraj Narsi, Sohail Syed, Omar Khawja
Moderator: Raza Merchant
Moderator: Raza Merchant
12:00 pm - Session 3
Governance in Pakistan: Problems & Solutions
Panelists: Fawad Hasan Fawad, Shabbar Zaidi, Zafar Masood, Nasra Zuberi
Chair: H.E. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh
Moderator: Raza Rumi
Chair: H.E. Rizwan Saeed Sheikh
Moderator: Raza Rumi
02:00 pm - Session 4
Film Screening: "The Angels Within"
Discussion with: Noor Naghmi (Director/Actor) and Khalid Hameed
Introduction: Dr. Syed Rizwan Ali
Introduction: Dr. Syed Rizwan Ali
03:00 pm - Session 5
Literary Activism: Past and Present
Panelists: Dr. Fawzia Afzal Khan, Khalid Masood Khan, Dr. Saeed Naqvi, Dr. Javed Akbar
Moderator: Ghazanfar Hashmi
Harf-e-Aghaz: Tasnim Abidi
Moderator: Ghazanfar Hashmi
Harf-e-Aghaz: Tasnim Abidi
08:00 pm - Session 6 (Ticketed Event)
Buy Tickets for Dinner/Music
Dinner & Sitar Performance
Sofi Night Performance by Dr. Amie Maciszewski and Sofi Kalam by Dr. Fawzia Afzal Khan and Hasnain Javed.
Buy Tickets for Dinner/Music
Venue: Legacy Pointe Events
9700 Bissonnet St. Houston TX 77036
Time: 10:00 am - 05:00 pm
Register for Day 2
11:00 am - Session 1
Artificial Intelligence & Creative Writing
Panelists: Dr. Kamran Jahangir, Fawad Hasan Fawad, Raza Rumi, Adnan Ishaq
Moderator: Nasira Zuberi
Introduction: Zartasha Shah
Moderator: Nasira Zuberi
Introduction: Zartasha Shah
11:45 am - Session 2
PTV News: Yaadain, Baatain
Panelists: Mahpara Safdar, Shahida Hassan, Khalid Hameed
Moderator: Bina Goindi
Introduction: Dr. Naveeda Ghazanfar
Moderator: Bina Goindi
Introduction: Dr. Naveeda Ghazanfar
12:25 pm - Session 3
Book Conversation: "Seat 1 C"
A Survivor's Tale of Hope, Resilience and Renewal by Zafar Masood
Moderators: Adeel Zaidi and Dr. Hina Tariq
01:05 pm - Session 4
A Dialogue with Shabbar Zaidi
Moderator: Ghazanfar Hashmi
Participant: Salman Razaqi
Participant: Salman Razaqi
03:30 pm
Grand Mushaira
Presided by: Shahida Hassan
Nizamat: Basit Jalili
Poets: Ishrat Afreen, Khalid Masood Khan, Afzal Firdous, Arif Imam, Nasra Zuberi, and many more.
Nizamat: Basit Jalili
Poets: Ishrat Afreen, Khalid Masood Khan, Afzal Firdous, Arif Imam, Nasra Zuberi, and many more.
Event Flyers
Official program details and guest lists.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
- Saaf Paani
- Barakah Mortgage
- King Fuels
- Lasbela
- ICNA Relief
- Helping Hand (HHRD)
- American Urdu TV