Kamila Shamsie

A day of wide-ranging events discussing the intriguing country of Pakistan, curated by author Kamila Shamsie.

Midday - 1:00pm: Politics With Huma Yusuf and Declan Walsh.
What is the state of relations between China and Pakistan, and why has the Pakistani public remained so seemingly unconcerned about China building itself a port in Pakistan, whilst America is lambasted for its every violation of Pakistan's sovereignty?

2:00pm – 3:00pm: Satire
Satire has been a much-valued part of Pakistan's cultural life through its democracies, dictatorships and the grey areas in between. The novelists Maha Khan-Phillips and Moni Mohsin read from their comic work.

3:15pm – 4:15pm: Art
Nada Raza chairs an illustrated discussion featuring the work of some of the leading contemporary artists in Pakistan, notably Rashid Rana, Naiza Khan, Imran Qureshi and Shazia Sikandar.

4:30pm – 5:15pm: Cricket
As Pakistan's international players enter their sixth year in exile from their home ground, which no other side will now visit, what does cricket in Pakistan tell us about the nation itself? Osman Samiuddin explains.

5:30pm: Film
In the last few years, films such as Zinda Bhaag, Slackistan, Ramchand Pakistan, Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi, Waar and Khuda kay Liye have generated considerable hype about the New Wave of Pakistani cinema.

Detractors claim that the drought of the preceding 25 years makes a few drops of water look like a wave. Meenu Gaur, director of the movie Zinda Bhaag (Pakistan's first submission for the Oscars) discusses the view from within the industry with Hammad Khan.