Int’l Conference on “French Contribution to Pakistan Studies”

The international conference “French Contribution to Pakistan Studies” was held at Quaid-i-Azam University with an aim to enhance scientific cooperation between the two countries and to encourage future joint research projects that will contribute to promote the rich and diverse heritage of Pakistan. The seminar was organized by the French Embassy in Pakistan in collaboration with Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Alliance Francaise Karachi.

The French scientific community has been implementing research programs in Pakistan since the 1950s. These programs were initially focused on archaeology and rapidly expanded to other fields like palaeontology and social sciences. This led to the creation of the Centre for Social Sciences in Karachi (CSSK) in 2011, the body responsible for coordinating French scientific research projects in Pakistan.

Over 15 French scholars and some 25 Pakistani researchers from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi attended the seminar. Research fields include palaeontology, archaeology (Indus civilisation, Islamic period), society and culture in the colonial and post-colonial era, and contemporary studies.