AGP Executive Report

Civil Liberties: Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband were sentenced to 10 years in a security-breach case, putting due process and rights back in focus. Arts & Culture: Karachi’s 25-day Third World Culture Festival opens with about 1,000 artists from 150 countries, featuring performances and collaborations with local artists. Women’s Rights: A rural women’s leadership conference in Islamabad brought together around 2,000 leaders and called for equal rights, dignity and greater inclusion, including for women with disabilities. Education & Work: Sindh plans to launch an internship programme for degree holders in November, alongside practical skills courses; KP will introduce the national curriculum for grades 9–12 from 2027.

Literary Culture: Pahari writer and Rochdale councillor Daalat Ali was briefly held in Pakistan, delaying his return to the UK. He is known for his novels and Lakeer, described as the first feature film made in Pahari. Rights & Justice: Human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha received 10-year prison sentences in a case over barriers on a route used by the England cricket team. The couple say they are being targeted for their legal work. Public Health: Lahore ranked as the world’s most polluted city, with an AQI of 419. A new report estimates air pollution cuts life expectancy in Pakistan by 3.9 years. Film & Fashion: Punjab plans to launch its first modern Film City on December 15, while LAAM Fashion Week has wrapped its second season after a four-day showcase. Arts & Community: Karachi’s Women and Family Festival brought stalls and activities to Empress Market, celebrating women, families and local enterprise.

Schools & Learning: Shehbaz Sharif has given officials a week to address problems in Islamabad’s government schools, including facilities and student welfare. In Sindh, education stakeholders want a dedicated STEAM policy and budget to bring practical learning into classrooms. Campus Safety: An attack at a girls’ college in Balochistan left three students injured, renewing concern about safety at schools. Film & Heritage: Actors Faysal Quraishi and Hareem Farooq criticised alleged paid negative publicity targeting their Punjabi-language film Mango Jutt. Lahore Fort offered another blend of culture and entertainment, hosting cricket teams for a tour, traditional performances and dinner. Women’s Justice: A new bench book aims to help judges handle rape cases fairly, alongside a study examining why gender-based violence cases falter. Language & Culture: A call for AI to better understand local languages highlights the importance of making new technology useful to people in their own words.

Cultural Diplomacy: India has invited Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi to the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum in Delhi, scheduled for Nov. 20–22; Islamabad has yet to confirm attendance. Campus Safety: Three students were injured when gunmen attacked a girls’ college in Balochistan’s Nushki district, prompting renewed concern about safety in schools. Faith and Community: Thousands gathered in Karachi and Islamabad for five days of Fatimiyya mourning ceremonies honouring Lady Fatima al-Zahra. Education: A new report highlights deep gaps in Sindh’s schools, with 7.6 million children out of formal education and girls especially affected. Workers’ Rights: Millions of labourers remain trapped in debt at Pakistan’s brick kilns, where long hours and exploitation hit religious minorities particularly hard. Fashion: LAAM Fashion Week’s second season wrapped after four days showcasing leading brands.

Cultural Exchange: India has invited Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture to the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum in New Delhi, Nov. 20–22. Islamabad has yet to confirm attendance. Media and Culture: Pakistan and China launched an information corridor linking 18 media outlets for verified news and cooperation in culture, tourism and youth engagement. Film Industry: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered Pakistan’s first film royalty law. Women’s Rights: Supreme Court Justice Ayesha Malik challenged beliefs that blame women for sexual assault, saying such violence deserves public outrage. Education: Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the University of Rasul and Rasul Medical College, and distributed scholarships and laptops to students.

Religious Freedom: Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld Christian Qaisar Ayub’s blasphemy conviction and death sentence, while his brother faces a different outcome, highlighting ongoing concerns over minority rights and due process. Women’s Mobility: Islamabad Traffic Police will offer free scooty lessons for women from November 1 to 15, aiming to make daily travel safer and more independent. Youth Sport: The Pakistan Hockey Federation is launching a nationwide schools league, with competitions beginning November 15 and stipends for top teams’ players. Child Safety: A new report estimates 1.5 million Pakistani children experienced online sexual exploitation or abuse in a year; many told no one, underscoring the need for stronger protection. Film & Culture: Punjab is preparing to launch Pakistan’s first modern Film City on December 15, alongside a new law to secure film royalties. Learning: The government’s digital learning drive plans to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks to students.

Education: Karachi’s first-year intermediate results are out under a new grading system, which requires students to score at least 40% in each paper to pass. Hyderabad board delays, meanwhile, are putting other students’ results at risk. Digital Safety: A new Sindh programme by Zindagi Trust, Meta and Durbeen teaches students, parents and teachers to spot online threats and protect privacy; 4,000 people have already taken part. Culture & Arts: Punjab has approved Pakistan’s first film royalty law, while its planned Film City is set to launch on December 15. Karachi’s Empress Market has also hosted a Women and Family Festival, and Mohatta Palace is due to hold the ninth Sindh Literature Festival. Pakistani Flavours Abroad: Arshad Khan’s Café Chaiwala has opened its third UK outlet, serving Pakistani tea and street food as the brand expands. Student Support: The government has launched a plan to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks with internet connectivity to students over two years.

Women’s Safety: A new call to rethink how boys are raised shifts the focus from asking women to protect themselves to challenging gender roles that can enable violence. Education: Karachi’s board released Class 11 results across science, commerce and arts; 11,966 pre-medical students passed all six papers. Film Industry: Punjab approved Pakistan’s first film royalty law, while its first modern Film City is set to launch on December 15. Arts & Community: Karachi’s Empress Market hosted a Women and Family Festival, and Mohatta Palace is preparing to host the ninth Sindh Literature Festival. Accessibility: Pakistan has moved to standardise sign language and designated the National Institute of Special Education as a federal institute.

Film and TV: Punjab’s first modern Film City is set to open on Dec. 15, with production rebates for Punjabi and Urdu films and plans for a film school, museum and studios. Literary Arts: Fatima Jinnah Women University’s three-day literature festival closed with storytelling, performances and a celebration of South Asian dance. The Sindh Literature Festival returns to Karachi’s Mohatta Palace on Nov. 21–22. Education: The prime minister launched a plan to distribute 500,000 internet-enabled Chromebooks to students over two years, including those attending religious seminaries. Community Life: Karachi’s Women and Family Festival opened at Empress Market, promoting women’s empowerment and family-friendly activities. Heritage: Hamdard Shura and young speakers paid tribute to Hakim Mohammed Said, honouring his work in education, healthcare and public service.

Digital Learning: Shehbaz Sharif launched a merit-based scheme to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks and internet devices to students across Pakistan over two years, including those at religious seminaries. Punjabi Culture: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says he wants to attend a Punjabi conference in Lahore in November, citing shared roots and calling for renewed people-to-people ties. Literature: Afghan-American novelist Nadia Hashimi discusses her new novel about Afghan women, the denial of girls’ education and how fiction can reshape perceptions of Afghanistan. Public Spaces: Islamabad’s F-9 Park upgrade plans include better lighting, walkways and a lake; Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says no trees will be cut and thousands will be planted. Cultural Exchange: Hungarian folk dancers performed at a National Day celebration hosted by Hungary’s embassy in Pakistan.

Food Insecurity: Pakistan’s 2026 Global Hunger Index score worsened to 25.5 from a recalculated 24.0 in 2018, putting it behind its South Asian neighbours and renewing calls to turn repeated warnings into action. Theatre: Lahore’s Punjab Maas International Theatre Festival has opened at Alhamra, bringing artists from five countries together for performances and cultural exchange through October 28. Inclusive Education: A Karachi conference highlighted the shortage of Braille textbooks and assistive technology for blind and visually impaired learners. Separately, the government announced plans to distribute 250,000 Chromebooks to schools each year. Heritage: Foreign delegations visiting Haripur’s Julian Stupa praised efforts to conserve the ancient Buddhist site and share its history with visitors. Child Welfare: A report on Balochistan describes the life of a girl married at 12, while Punjab officials say more than 50 private shelter homes remain unregistered, leaving oversight and child-safety concerns. Climate and Cities: Karachi’s unusually hot autumn is a warning of unequal exposure to extreme heat, especially for outdoor workers and families without cool, safe homes.

Youth & Education: Rana Mashood called for equal access to education and skills training, noting plans for five Danish Schools in Sindh as part of a 30-school national expansion. Campus Culture: Karachi University’s student-led MediaVerse brought creators, artists and public figures together, offering students a platform beyond the classroom. Literature & Heritage: Ismat Chughtai’s bold writing still challenges expectations around women’s freedom and desire; Islamabad schools have also launched a heritage education initiative. Punjabi Connections: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says he wants to attend a Punjabi conference in Lahore next month, though he doubts he will receive travel approval. Arts & Events: Lahore’s Alhamra is bringing international culture to local audiences, while Karachi prepares for its third World Culture Festival.

Arts & Heritage: Islamabad’s new Shahkaar Fankaar gallery has opened with Lahore artist Minaa Haroon’s work, which uses inherited jewellery to explore memory, identity and family lineage. Education & Debate: Lahore’s Class 11 results show a 60.03% pass rate, with girls outperforming boys; a separate commentary argues that schools and institutions should make more room for questioning and independent thought. Women & Society: Actor and host Anoushey Ashraf says women who marry later face persistent social scrutiny. Film & Festivals: A Sindh release is planned for Ghost School after a three-month legal fight, while Karachi is preparing to host its third World Culture Festival across three venues. Wildlife: Campaigners are renewing calls to save Karachi’s last two captive African elephants.

Music: Pakistani singer Natasha Noorani joins six Asian musicians on “New Day Rising,” a cross-cultural track blending traditional instruments with everyday sounds. Art & Festivals: Islamabad’s new USEFP gallery has opened with Lahore artist Minaa Haroon’s exhibition, which turns inherited jewellery into reflections on memory and identity. Karachi is also preparing to host its third World Culture Festival, while Alhamra’s international theatre festival begins this week. Film & Censorship: A court has asked Sindh’s censor board to reconsider award-winning film Ghost School, after a three-month legal battle over its release. Education & Identity: A first-person essay makes the case for giving Urdu literature and writers such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib a deeper place in classrooms. Wildlife: Fresh attention is on Karachi’s captive elephants, with calls to protect Madhubala and improve the animals’ welfare.

Heritage: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and the First Lady toured Islamabad’s Lok Virsa Museum, exploring Pakistan’s regional crafts, textiles and folk traditions. Theatre: Alhamra’s international festival opens in Lahore, bringing artists from Pakistan and five other countries together for performances, workshops and discussions through Oct. 28. Girls’ Rights: A photography exhibition in Islamabad spotlights young brides in flood-affected communities and the pressures that climate disasters can place on girls. Education: NBP and Habib University Foundation will fund four years of study for 13 young women, prioritising students from rural and underserved areas. Justice: Lahore High Court has ordered police to reopen the investigation into the abduction and forced marriage of 13-year-old Christian girl Maria Shahbaz.

Arts & Festivals: Karachi has opened its Global Arts Festival with a centuries-old qawwali tradition, and Mayor Murtaza Wahab says the city will host its third World Culture Festival. Lahore’s Punjab Mass International Theatre Festival begins Oct. 23. Fashion & Heritage: HSY is designing PIA’s new cabin-crew uniforms, drawing on Pakistani craftsmanship and the airline’s design history. Film & Storytelling: Pakistani women filmmakers are bringing untold stories to screen, while Oscar entry Hanging by a Wire asks why children in Battagram still cross a gorge by cable car. Gender & Society: Actors Yashma Gill and Nadia Hussain criticised Mufti Tariq Masood’s remarks on postpartum intimacy, reviving debate about women’s recovery after childbirth. Balochistan: A Baloch American activist urged international intervention over alleged forced displacement of families in Kalat. Arts Education: Alhamra has revamped its academy to create new opportunities for aspiring artists.