LAHORE: The three-day AAS-in-Asia 2026 conference concluded on Sunday at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), bringing together more than 1,000 scholars from over 37 countries in the event’s first-ever edition held in Pakistan.
Held under the theme “Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Recharting Futures,” the gathering drew academics from 517 institutions, including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale and Peking University. Sessions covered climate change, AI, gender, cities and cultural heritage.
LUMS Vice Chancellor Dr. Ali Cheema said Pakistan must remain part of global conversations on Asia. Association for Asian Studies President Prof. Elora Shehabuddin called the turnout of over 900 in-person attendees “truly impressive” amid global turmoil.
Dr. Adil Najam delivered the keynote on climate adaptation.
The event closed with a cultural performance blending Bhangra, Kathak and Sufi dance, capping days of scholarly exchange and cultural showcases across LUMS.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026