Post-Islamabad talks: ‘Pakistan occupies uniquely significant position in world’

LAHORE: In a country where think tanks have long been dismissed as ivory tower institutions disconnected from the realities of ordinary citizens, one woman is determined to do things differently. Huma Zaman, CEO and Founder of the newly established think tank Fikr-o-Amal meaning “Thought and Action” brings with her a vision that is as grounded as it is ambitious: to reshape Pakistan’s political and social landscape from the grassroots up.

In an exclusive interview, she spoke with clarity and conviction about why this moment in history demands bold intellectual leadership, and why Pakistan can no longer afford the luxury of division.

Huma Zaman opened the conversation by placing Pakistan’s current situation in a broader global context, arguing that the country occupies a uniquely significant position in today’s world particularly in the wake of its role in mediating peace talks between the United States and Iran. “The world is watching Pakistan,” she said, “and for the first time in a long while, we have an opportunity to project ourselves as a responsible, mature, and indispensable nation.”

She was quick to add, however, that this window of opportunity is neither guaranteed nor permanent. Pakistan can only truly benefit from its elevated standing on the world stage if it is first able to put its own house in order. In her view, the single greatest obstacle to national progress is not external pressure or economic hardship, but internal fragmentation. “Polarisation in our society is eating us alive,” she said firmly. “Without social justice, without cohesion, we cannot convert this geopolitical advantage into real gains for our people.”

At its core, Fikr-o-Amal is a non-political think tank with a singular focus: cultivating the next generation of young leaders capable of shaping Pakistan’s future. Huma Zaman believes that the country’s problems are fundamentally political in nature and therefore demand a new breed of informed, principled leadership to address them. The organisation’s primary focus areas include economic empowerment, youth leadership, and the professional development of individuals from critical fields such as education, law, and medicine. “Teachers, lawyers, and doctors shape society in profound ways,” she explained. “If we can bring them into an informed, engaged political conversation, the impact will be felt at every level of national life.”

Beyond developing leadership, Huma Zaman envisions Fikr-o-Amal as a vehicle for civilisational renewal. She articulated that a core objective of the organisation is to rediscover and revive what is most valuable from the Indus civilisation, building reform upon an indigenous foundation aligned with Pakistan’s own identity. Drawing a parallel with China’s approach to modernisation, she argued that Pakistan must similarly retain what remains relevant from its heritage while shedding what no longer serves it. “We cannot be severed from our own rich heritage, which was deeply enlightened,” she said. “We are, after all, a civilisation rooted in the Indus Valley — one that spans thousands of years.”

One of the more thought-provoking dimensions of Fikr-o-Amal’s agenda is its commitment to promoting what Huma describes as Islamic socialism — a concept she was careful to distinguish from the ideological baggage the word “socialism” often carries in conservative circles. “Islam does not discourage the accumulation of wealth,” she said. “What it does insist upon is a system in which the benefits of that wealth flow downward, reaching people at the grassroots level. We are not anti-prosperity — we are pro-justice.” This framework, she argued, offers Pakistan a homegrown philosophical foundation for economic reform, rooted in its own cultural and religious identity rather than borrowed from foreign ideologies.

Perhaps the most urgent of Fikr-o-Amal’s goals is its effort to transform the very nature of political discourse in Pakistan. Huma expressed deep frustration with the tendency of both religious and political parties to mobilise public sentiment along lines of religion and ethnicity rather than policy and principle. “Politics in Pakistan has been hijacked,” she said, “by those who use the name of religion or ethnic identity to serve their own interests rather than the interests of the people.” She envisions a political atmosphere in which leaders are held accountable not by the slogans they chant, but by the tangible improvements they deliver to the lives of ordinary citizens. She was emphatic that this is not an attack on religion or cultural identity, but rather a call for integrity a demand that those who invoke sacred values in the political arena must also demonstrate a sacred commitment to public service.

True to the second half of its name, Fikr-o-Amal is not content to simply generate ideas. Huma outlined an active programme of seminars, public discussions, and community engagement initiatives designed to carry the think tank’s message directly to the people. “Awareness is the first step toward change,” she said. “We want people to understand their rights, to feel empowered, and to demand better from their leaders.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026