Aims and Objectives of Conference

The primary aim of this conference is to convene scholars and academics from both Pakistan and abroad, generating an awareness of the significance of indigenous knowledge production within the fields of Arts and Humanities. The Euro-centric anthropological inquiries and colonial narratives have helped maintain the dominance of western theorizing and methodologies. This conference is highly pertinent in shifting the focus away from the western-centric knowledge paradigms and setting an agenda for the development and implementation of localized theories and research methodologies. Another core objective of this international conference is to broadcast indigenous cultures, globalize local myths and folk wisdom, and celebrate poets and writers in their native languages. That is how we can liberate ourselves from the western hegemony and reclaim authority over indigenous ways of knowing and being.

Conference Theme / Concept Note

One of the significant after-effects of colonial discourse and (later) postcolonial studies is an increasing focus on indigenous theorizing, research methodologies, and knowledge production, especially at the turn of the century. Decolonization is, in many ways, part of devising alternative epistemes and telling counter-stories. This awakening to the necessity of de-linking from Western epistemology allows the formation of global indigenous movements from South and Southeast Asia through South America to the Pacific Islands with a focus on alternative knowledge traditions and global social theory. Therefore, instead of taking pride in saying that “we are the most researched people in the world,” it is time to share, name, and claim our diverse indigenous knowledge practices vis-à-vis Eurocentric knowledge hierarchies. This international conference is a step towards creating an awareness about foregrounding and authenticating the local epistemologies and ontologies without losing attention to Western critical thought. Our cultural retelling will thus become more than deconstructing Euro-American scholarship. We invite original research papers that align with the overarching theme of this conference. The potential conference participants are encouraged to write papers on topics that resonate with, but are not confined to, the following subthemes:

  • Indigeneity as resistance
  • Indigenizing research theories and methods
  • Challenges of indigenizing research practices in the Global South
  • Border thinking
  • Decoloniality and the questions of Gender and race
  • Globalizing Pakistani languages and literature
  • Psychology and sociology of literature in indigenous terms
  • Forms of Indigenous art
  • Indigenizing Linguistic theories and practices
  • ‘The outsider within’ research
  • Building community research
  • Spelling out indigenous research initiatives
  • Local approaches to critical theory
  • Challenges of publishing indigenous knowledge
  • Cinematic representations of indigenous peoples
  • Translation as a glocalizing practice
  • Local aesthetics and ethics
  • The political economy of local narratives

Keynote Speakers

International

Prof. Luiza Franco Moreira

Professor of Comparative Literature and Chair of the Department, Binghamton University, New York, USA

Boaventura de Sousa Santos

Professor of Sociology, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Dr. Ahmar Mahboob

Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, School of Humanities, University of Sydney, Australia

Prof. Dr. Waseem Anwar

Professor of English and Director of International Centre for Pakistani Writing in English, Kinnard College for Women, Lahore

Prof. Dr. Habibullah Pathan

Centre of English Language and Linguistics, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh

Dr. Aroosa Kanwal

Associate Professor, Department of English, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad

Dr. Shahzeb Khan

Associate Professor, Institute of English Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore

Dr. Muhammad Sheeraz

Assistant Professor, International Islamic University, Islamabad and Visiting Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

Dr. Pir Suhail Ahmed Sarhandi

Registrar, Aror University, Sukkar

Mr. Jamshed Iqbal

Writer, Translator and Critical Thinker

  1. Dr. Sayan Bhattacharyya, Lecturer in Digital Humanities, Yale University, USA
  2. Dr. Mahmoud Abdelhamid Mahmoud Ahmed Khalifa, Assistant Professor Cultural Studies and Literary Criticism, Faculty of Languages, South Valley University, Hurghada, Egypt
  3. Midhun Mohan, PhD Scholar, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
  4. Prof. Dr. Mamoona Khan, Chairperson of the Institute of Visual Arts and Design at Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi
  5. Dr. Afsheen Salahuddin, Adjunct Faculty in English, LUMS, Lahore
  6. Ms. Warda Ishtiaq, Visiting Lecturer, ICMC and Dr. Saira A. Khan, Assistant Professor, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi
  7. Dr. Sibghatullah Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English GS, NUML, Islamabad
  8. Prof. Dr. Zia Ahmed, Professor and Chair of the English Department, Emerson University, Multan
  9. Ms. Nayab Sadiq, Lecturer English, Riphah International University
  10. Ms. Fauzia Amin and Ms. Saira Akhter, Govt. College Women University, Faisalabad
  11. Mr. Arshad Ahmad, Lecturer in English, The Orbit Institute, Lahore
  12. Ms. Hafiza Muarifa Masood Mirza, Visiting Lecturer, University of Sargodha
  13. Ms. Farheen Shakir, English Language Teacher, MPhil in English Literature Graduate, NUML, Islamabad.
  14. Dr. Tahira Jabeen, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Ms. Samman Ibrar, MPhil English (Graduate), The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
  15. Ms. Rohma Saleem, PhD Scholar, University of Balochistan, Assistant professor in Islamia Girls College, Quetta
  16. Ms. Roshan Amber Ali, Lecturer, Department of English GS, NUML, Islamabad
  17. Ms. Maria Gul and Ms. Selina Aziz, Foundation University Islamabad
  18. Ms.Qammar-un-nisa Jatoi, Lecturer and Ms. Shahnaz Jumani, MS Scholar, Department of English Language & Literature, University of Sufism and Modern Sciences, Sindh
  19. Ms. Maryam Aslam, Mphil English (Linguistics) Scholar, Department of English, Air University, Islamabad
  20. Ms. Shaista Murtaza, Lecturer, Aror University, Sukkur
  21. Mr. Adnan Ashraf, Assistant Professor English, Govt. Gordon Graduate College, Rawalpindi
  22. Dr. Farah Hashmi and Dr. Shazia Rose, English UGS Department NUML, Islamabad
  23. Dr. Mudasar Jahan, Lecturer English, University of Gujrat
  24. Ms. Madya Agher, Lecturer Department of Linguistics and Communication, University of Management and Technology, Sialkot Campus
  25. Ms. Sundus Javaid and Ms. Saima Umar, NUML Multan Campus and MainCampus
  26. Ms. Areeba Ali, Ms. Sara Ijaz and Ms. Azka Nadeem, BS English (Graduates), NUML, Islamabad
  27. Dr. Uzma Abid Ansari, Assistant Professor, Department of English GS, NUML, Islamabad
  28. Dr. Muhammad Abdullah, Assistant Professor English, GC University, Lahore
  29. Ms. Maha Farooq, Lecturer English, Islamabad Model College for Girls, I-8/4
  30. Ms. Mahrukh Nishat, Assistant Professor at the Department of English, GC University Lahore
  31. Mr. Muhammad Ali, Lecturer in English, Government College University, Lahore
  32. Dr. Shamaila Haleem, Lecturer at Islamabad Model College for Girls (Post-Graduate), F-7/2, Islamabad
  33. Ms. Anam Feroz, PhD Scholar in Department of English Language and Literature, International Islamic University, Islamabad

Conference Committees

Steering Committee

  • Prof. Dr. Muhammad Safeer Awan
  • Dr. Inayat Ullah
  • Dr. Zawar Hussain Hashmi
  • Dr. Hazart Umar
  • Dr. Sibghatullah Khan
  • Dr. Asma Haseeb Qazi
  • Dr. Sana Tariq


Academic Committee

  • Dr. Inayat Ullah (Literature)
  • Dr. Sibghatullah Khan
  • Dr. Uzma Abid Ansari
  • Dr. Zawar Hussain (Linguistics)
  • Dr. Farheen Ahmed Hashmi
  • Dr. Sherbano Zaidi
  • Dr. Aneela Gil
  • Dr. Aziz Ullah Khan


Correspondence Committee

  • International Speakers
    • Dr. Rabia Amir
  • National Invited Speakers
    • Dr. Amina Ghazanfar
    • Ms. Qurat ul Ain


Media Coordinators

  • Ms. Momina Hafeez
  • Ms. Iram Shehzadi


Printing & Publication

  • Dr. Hazrat Umar
  • Mr. Bilal Hussain
  • Dr. Samar Zaki
  • Ms. Sadia Hoori


Reception and Hosting

  • Dr. Asma Haseeb Qazir
  • Dr. Humaira Ahmad
  • Dr. Salma Qayyum
  • Ms. Zenab Jehangir
  • Ms. Syeda Malika Zahra


Administrative Coordination

  • Dr. Yasir Arafat
  • Dr. Haseeb Nasir
  • Dr. Kulsoom Khan
  • Ms. Ayesha Rabbi


Budget and Sponsorship

  • Dr. Muntazir Mehdi
  • Dr. Shazia Rose
  • Dr. Islam Badshah


Transportation and Logistics

  • Dr. Ayaz Mehmood
  • Mr. Habib ur Rehman
  • Mr. Ahsan Afzaal
  • Mr. Shaheen ul Zaman


Venue Committee

  • Ms. Amina Ayaz
  • Ms. Roshaan Amber Ali
  • Mr. Umar Ateeq
  • Ms. Sana Zafar

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline

Notification Of Acceptance/Rejection

Full Paper Submission

Issuance of Program

Digital Abstract Book Publication

Program Schedule

Registration Fee