Oxford University Pakistan Society
Encyclopedia
Oxford University Pakistan Society is a student society
in the University of Oxford
for Pakistani nationals, people of Pakistani ancestry and everyone interested in Pakistan
. It was founded in the 1950s and is one of the oldest Pakistani societies in the United Kingdom. The society is renowned for its cultural events and talks by well-known and influential figures from Pakistan. It is widely considered to be one of the most powerful and influential student-run Pakistani societies in the world.
The Oxford University Pakistan Society aims to promote the heritage and culture of Pakistan and provides a social platform for Pakistani students to get to know each other and form strong relationships. The society not only serves as a medium of cultural exchange with student societies of other countries, we also aim to promote awareness about Pakistan’s internal and foreign affairs while engaging the students in debate regarding important issues. As part of a small and privileged group of Pakistani students to get the opportunity to study at this hallowed institution, the society also aims to be at the forefront for a positive change in Pakistan and lay the intellectual grounds for the formation of a progressive, democratic Pakistan.
Guest speakers for the society have included former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, politician Imran Khan
, former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and renowned Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq among others. A full list of speakers and performers for the society may be found from the society's official website.
The society recently became the centre of controversy when there was a ruckus by some attendees during a talk by Former Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza
in November 2011. The disruptors were removed from the venue and the society later issued a formal press release condemning the disruption and assuring future speakers and attendees of their safety and security.
The Oxford University Pakistan Society, in collaboration with NUPSA, also annually hosts Pakistan Young Leaders Conference, a leadership development program that aims to bring together outstanding young people from around the country and help them build critical leadership skills that will help them groom in to successful leaders of the future. Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chairman of Senate Farooq Naek
have both been keynote speakers for the conferences hosted by the society in Oxford.
The Society is also renowned for its Annual Mushaira held in late February each year, which is one of the largest gatherings of leading Urdu and Punjabi poets in the United Kingdom. Renowned Urdu writers and poets such as Akbar Hyderabadi, Saqi Farooqi and Khalid Yusuf have all been regular guests and performers at the society's Mushaira
Student society
A student society or student organization is an organization, operated by students at a university, whose membership normally consists only of students. They are often affiliated with a university's students' union...
in the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
for Pakistani nationals, people of Pakistani ancestry and everyone interested in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It was founded in the 1950s and is one of the oldest Pakistani societies in the United Kingdom. The society is renowned for its cultural events and talks by well-known and influential figures from Pakistan. It is widely considered to be one of the most powerful and influential student-run Pakistani societies in the world.
The Oxford University Pakistan Society aims to promote the heritage and culture of Pakistan and provides a social platform for Pakistani students to get to know each other and form strong relationships. The society not only serves as a medium of cultural exchange with student societies of other countries, we also aim to promote awareness about Pakistan’s internal and foreign affairs while engaging the students in debate regarding important issues. As part of a small and privileged group of Pakistani students to get the opportunity to study at this hallowed institution, the society also aims to be at the forefront for a positive change in Pakistan and lay the intellectual grounds for the formation of a progressive, democratic Pakistan.
Notable Speakers
The Society is renowned for its educational and high profile speaker events. It has hosted speakers from all walks of life including politicians, journalists, celebrities, academics and sportsmen among others. These speaker events are almost always free for members of the public. The society is not affiliated with any political party or movement, which allows it to host speakers of great diversity.Guest speakers for the society have included former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, politician Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan Niazi is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics...
, former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi and renowned Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq among others. A full list of speakers and performers for the society may be found from the society's official website.
The society recently became the centre of controversy when there was a ruckus by some attendees during a talk by Former Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza
Zulfiqar Mirza
Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza is a leader and politician who is affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party. He hails from thedistrict Badin, Hyderabad. He did his graduation from LMC Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Sindh. He is married to Dr. Fahmida Mirza who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National...
in November 2011. The disruptors were removed from the venue and the society later issued a formal press release condemning the disruption and assuring future speakers and attendees of their safety and security.
Annual Events
The Society holds a series of cultural and educational events annually. An annual cultural event in collaboration with the Oxford Indian Society to celebrate Eid called the "Eid Milan Extravanganza" is held every year in Michealmas Term which involves a buffet dinner and several performances from society members. Debates on sensitive topics such as blasphemy, secularism and Kashmir have also been held every year in Hilary term and these debates are chaired by the leading academics in the relevant fields.The Oxford University Pakistan Society, in collaboration with NUPSA, also annually hosts Pakistan Young Leaders Conference, a leadership development program that aims to bring together outstanding young people from around the country and help them build critical leadership skills that will help them groom in to successful leaders of the future. Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chairman of Senate Farooq Naek
Farooq Naek
Farooq Hamid Naek is the current Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, who replaced Muhammad Mian Soomro on 12 March 2009. He was appointed to that position by President Asif Ali Zardari of the ruling coalition of PPP, ANP, MQM and JUI-F. As a result of his election, senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani...
have both been keynote speakers for the conferences hosted by the society in Oxford.
The Society is also renowned for its Annual Mushaira held in late February each year, which is one of the largest gatherings of leading Urdu and Punjabi poets in the United Kingdom. Renowned Urdu writers and poets such as Akbar Hyderabadi, Saqi Farooqi and Khalid Yusuf have all been regular guests and performers at the society's Mushaira
Recent presidents
The list of recent presidents of the society can be observed in the table below:| Year | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| Year 2011 | Ayyaz Mallick | Oriel College |
| Year 2010 | Uzair F. Butt | Magdalen College Magdalen College, Oxford Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record... |
| Year 2009 | Qasim Raza | Pembroke College Pembroke College, Oxford Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:... |
| Year 2008 | Imran Zahid | St John's College St John's College, Oxford __FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of... |
| Year 2007 | Tahir Mansoori | Wolfson College Wolfson College, Oxford Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Located in north Oxford along the River Cherwell, Wolfson is an all-graduate college with over sixty governing body fellows, in addition to both research and junior research fellows. It caters to a wide range of... |
| Year 2006 | Tanzeem Haq | Wadham College Wadham College, Oxford Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I... |