The 6th International THAAP Conference titled "People's History of Pakistan" started here on Friday in 8 scholarly research papers were presented on the first day. The Conference has been organised by NGO THAAP in collaboration with Kinnaird College for Women University together with the support of Higher Education Commission, Islamabad and Global Arts Limited.
Writers, scholars, historians, economists, sociologists, artists, town planners, designers, architects & delegates from Bangladesh, Germany, India, Spain, UK, USA, and from various cities of Pakistan participated. Presenting the welcome address former principal National College of Arts, architect and CEO of THAAP Professor Sajida Haider Vandal said that THAAP has played a pivotal role in improving the state of education along with promoting socio-economic & cultural development in Pakistan and THAAP Crafts brings livelihood to rural population and the poor.
Convenor of the conference Professor Pervaiz Vandal, Rt. Rev. John Alexandar John Malik Professor Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin, Chairman HEC Punjab, Architect Ahmed Pervaiz Mirza and eminent historian Dr, Mubarak Ali presided over two sessions. In the first session, 1st paper of the Conference was presented by Meher Ali, a Bachelor of Arts in History from Brown University, USA, Her paper was titled "The Hidden Left: Communist Activity and Influence in Pakistan's Early Years". The 2nd paper of the Conference was by Dr Hanifur Rehman, educationist & Lecturer at the University of Peshawar and Jamshed Khan, a visiting Research Scholar at SOAS, University of London. Their paper was titled "Irony of History: Pakhtunistan, Bacha Khan and Afghanistan".
The 3rd paper was presented by Dr Riaz Ahmed Shaikh, Head of Social Sciences and Associate Professor at SZABIST, Karachi. His paper was titled "Peasants uprising in East Bengal / East Pakistan (1946 - 50)". The 4th paper of the session was by M. Towhidul Islam, CEO and Project Director of Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi in Swat. The paper was titled "Political Organism of Pakistan: Examination of Political Structure of Local Bodies in Pakistan".
The 5th paper of the Conference was by Samina Iqbal titled "Sheikh Safdar Ali and the Emergence of Modern Avant-Garde Art in Pakistan". The 6th paper was presented by Dr Kanwal Khalid titled "19th Century Painters of Lahore tell the Story Behind". The 7th paper was presented by Aisha Asim Imdad, an artist, educationist, designer and an Associate Professor at COMSATS Institute of Information & Technology, Islamabad. Her paper was titled "Truck Art: A Story in Motion".
The 8th paper was presented by Sadia Pasha Kamran titled "Popular Culture of Cynicism and its Aesthetic Demonstrations in Pakistan", discussion session followed by tea break. The Conference Paper Reading Sessions and THAAP Photography Exhibition will continue till November 8th, 2015.