LUMS - Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Congratulations to Mustafa Zeshan (BSc Hons. Economics, Class of 2025) on being awarded the prestigious Texas A&M Graduate Fellowship!

Mustafa will pursue his MS in Financial Economics at Texas A&M University.

Reflecting on his time at LUMS, Mustafa shares: "I spent four amazing years at MGSHSS, and it played a huge role in shaping who I am today. The experience goes beyond academics — it is the kind of place that pushes you to think differently, ask better questions, and stay curious. The exposure to so many perspectives helped me become more open-minded and confident in how I think and express ideas. What I value most though, is everything outside the classroom — the people, the conversations, the mentorship, and the overall environment that made those four years incredibly meaningful."

Congratulations, Mustafa, on this well-deserved recognition!
Best wishes for your MS programme and the exciting opportunities ahead.

We are proud to announce the publication of "A Confluence Between Iqbal and Leibniz: Self and Monad" by Dr. Muhammad Shabbir Ahsen, Associate Professor at the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences, LUMS!

Published by Routledge, this work brings together two towering intellectual traditions — the Eastern philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, whose concept of khudi (selfhood) placed the individual ego at the centre of spiritual and philosophical life, and the Western metaphysics of Leibniz, whose theory of the Monad conceived of reality as composed of unique, indivisible units of consciousness.

In weaving these two philosophical worlds together, Dr. Ahsen invites us to explore profound questions about the nature of the self, identity, and the relationship between the individual and the universe.

📖 Read more and order here: https://www.routledge.com/A-Confluence-Between-Iqbal-and-Leibniz-Self-and-Monad/Ahsen/p/book/9781032427386

Congratulations to Dr. Muhammad Shabbir Ahsen on this outstanding contribution to comparative philosophy!

Join us for an engaging discussion on the Symbiotic Relationship between Visual and Literary Forms this Thursday, April 16th!

Presented by Dr. Syrrina Ahsan, this talk centers on how visuality constructs meaning, the politics of representation and the importance of viewing the world from multiple perspectives.

📆 : Thursday, April 16th, 2026
🕐: 6:00 PM onwards
📍: SIACR 0-06, SAHSOL

The deadline for MPhil applications is just days away! ⏰

Make sure you have everything ready with our application checklist:
✅ Gather your academic records
✅ Prepare your CV
✅ Gather your letters of recommendation
✅ Polish your personal statement
✅ Finalize your writing sample
✅ Register for the admission test
✅ Pay the processing fee

Deadline: April 14, 2026, 5:00 PM PKT

Don't miss this opportunity to join our MPhil in Comparative Humanities or MPhil in Society, Culture and Politics programmes!

EDIT: Deadline has been extended till May 5th, 2026.

LUMS and Villanova University's Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (JSAMES) invite you to the Development Writing Workshop 2026 — taking place in Lahore on September 23–24, 2026.

This two-day workshop focuses on Political and Socio-Economic Transformations in South and Central Asia. We welcome interdisciplinary submissions on political processes, institutions, conflict and cooperation, economic transformations, inequality, environmentalism, securitization, social change, and related topics.

The workshop is open to PhD candidates and assistant/associate professors in Pakistan and beyond. Scholars attending the AAS in Asia Conference are especially encouraged to apply.

Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026

Successful applicants will be notified in early May and will be asked to submit a first draft (6,000–9,000 words) by August 7.

To apply, submit the form at: https://bit.ly/JSAMESCFP or scan the QR code on the flyer.

Join us for this interesting and important seminar on the 15th of April!

A thoughtful evening on science, sustainability, and community-led solutions!

Join us for a collaborative seminar by SSE, HSS, and WIT at LUMS, featuring Dr. Zeshan Ismat, Professor of Geosciences at Franklin & Marshall College.

Tectonics, Climate, and Community: A Hybrid Strategy for Water Security in the Indus River Basin, Pakistan explores how climate change, groundwater depletion, and geological shifts are reshaping water security in Pakistan—and how a hybrid, community-driven approach can offer more resilient and sustainable solutions.

From fractured-rock aquifers to indigenous conservation practices, the talk brings together science and society to reimagine how we manage one of our most critical resources.

📍 LCE Auditorium, SBASSE
Wednesday, 15th April | 6 PM

Open to the LUMS community.

Public registration here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeNl_NspQJnjVBEfd41Iq0EjS_BQcPWaMSVKt5CJszSUW1JA/viewform

It is with great pleasure that MGSHSS announces the promotion to Professor of Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi.

Dr. Qasmi has been with the School since 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2017. In the nine years since, he has distinguished himself through his research, teaching and institutional contribution.

Dr. Qasmi’s scholarship combines innovative conceptual framing, rigorous archival research, and a willingness to engage complex historical and contemporary questions. His research has placed him as a pioneering historian whose work has already transformed key areas of South Asian history and Pakistan Studies and will continue shaping the field for decades. His teaching and mentorship have produced outstanding students, and his institutional contributions have brought strength, stability, and enhanced visibility to the School and the University.

He has also been a wonderful colleague, generous with time and advice and always ready to take on additional responsibilities without complaint.

Please join us all in congratulating Professor Qasmi and his family on this achievement!

Unpacking Pakistan is back with Episode 5! 🎙️

Where does Pakistan stand in the new global order? Host Aneeqa Mazhar Wattoo sits down with Dr. Asma Faiz, Dr. Anam Kuraishi, and Dr. Younis Sarwer to unpack this critical question.

From US-Pakistan relations and military diplomacy to the rise of populism, shifting regional alliances, and the ongoing Middle East crisis—this conversation explores what global change means for Pakistan's future.

Recorded in November 2025, this episode examines the antecedents of current conflicts and Pakistan's place amid global uncertainty. Is Pakistan shaping events, or reacting to them?

Watch the full episode now: https://youtu.be/547iv9j9vco