An Unbreakable Friendship? Where Next for Britain and Pakistan?

Baroness Warsi is to kick off a series of four events with a speech exploring the complex and intimate relationships between Pakistan, Britain and the Pakistani diaspora in the UK. To attend this event email lectures@rsa.org.uk or follow the necessary links for online booking. The four debates will discuss:

Given the historic ties between Britain and Pakistan (with 1.2 Million British citizens having Pakistani heritage and over 10,000 people flying from Manchester Airport to Pakistan every week) – what does the future relationship Britain and Pakistan look like?

Do Westminster’s political and media networks engage sufficiently with the national British Pakistani community? Has the Prevent strategy resulted in the alienation of British Pakistani young people, and if so, how can more positive opportunities be created?

Have the negative news reports and media narratives surrounding the conflicts in Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan effected community relations in Britain?

With the Pakistani diaspora continuing to support families, businesses, charities and welfare organisations back in Pakistan, what more can they do to engage with the recently announced £650 million DFID Pakistan aid programme?

The series will feature prominent figures from the worlds of politics, business, arts, charity, culture, religion, philanthropy, development and the media. The programme will explore the historic, family, contemporary, economic, military and cultural ties between Britain and Pakistan and discuss the future for these relations both as part of the Commonwealth and in the context of a globalised 21st Century.

1. ‘An Unbreakable Friendship’? Where Next for Britain and Pakistan?
A keynote by Conservative Chairman Baroness Warsi and a Q and A session with Anwar Akhtar, director, The Samosa.

Where: The RSA, London
When: October 10, 6.30pm
Book online: www.thersa.org/events/our-events

2. British Pakistanis and Pakistan, 21st Century Citizenship and Diasporas
A panel event with Anatol Lieven, author of ‘Pakistan A Hard Country’; Zaiba Malik, author of ‘We are Muslim Please’; Jahan Mahmood, historian specialising in the role of Muslim soldiers who served in the British Military; Anwar Akhtar, director, The Samosa; and Rubia Dar, journalist, Pakistan International Peoples Association. (PIPA)

Where: The RSA, London
When: October 24, 6.30pm
Book online: www.thersa.org/events/our-events

3. Pakistan in the Media: Changing the Narrative, bringing in new voices and talent.
A panel event at City University London 6.30 pm. Chaired by author Professor Ziauddin Sardar, featuring journalists, bloggers and film makers including; Medhi Hasan, senior editor, New Statesman; Zachary Latif, Brown Pundits Blog; Mobeen Azhar, assistant producer, BBC Current Affairs; Nayha Kalia, editor, The Samosa; and Homa Khaleeli, commissioning editor, Guardian G2.

Where: City University London, Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre
When: November 2, 6.30pm

To book contact: daroevents@city.ac.uk

4. Can Philanthropy and Aid help Development in Pakistan?
A panel event with Jehangir Malik OBE, UK director, Islamic relief; Michael Green, author of ‘Philanthrocapitalism’, previously Head of Communications at the Department for International Development; Asif Rangoonwala, chair, British Pakistani Foundation; and Hugh Mclean, director, Open Society, Soros Foundation Education Programmes.

Where: City University London, Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre
When: November 14, 6.30pm
To book contact: daroevents@city.ac.uk