A five-day national conference on the future of historical studies in Pakistan concluded at the University of Peshawar's Bara Gali Summer Campus with participants calling for the establishment of an Association of Pakistani Historians to promote research, academic collaboration and policy engagement. Organised by the Department of History under the theme, “Revisiting History as a Discipline in Pakistan: Institutions, Policies, Pedagogies, and Future Directions,” the conference brought together historians, academics, researchers and students from across the country to examine the challenges and future direction of historical scholarship.
Inaugural Session and Keynote Address
The inaugural session was chaired by Prof Yurid Ahsan Zia, Registrar of the University of Peshawar, who attended as chief guest on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Johar Ali. Conference Chair Dr Altaf Qadir welcomed participants and underscored the importance of critically reassessing the discipline of history in light of contemporary academic and societal challenges. Delivering the keynote address, Prof Dr Muhammad Shafique examined the conceptual and methodological challenges confronting historical scholarship in Pakistan. He urged historians to strengthen the discipline’s research methodologies and encouraged the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to support, rather than replace, scholarly inquiry.
Paper Presentations and Academic Exchanges
The conference featured two days of paper presentations within its five-day programme. Researchers presented studies on curriculum development, teaching methodologies, archives, public history, digital technologies, decolonial perspectives, cultural heritage, regional histories and employment opportunities for history graduates. The presentations were followed by detailed discussions and academic exchanges. A round-table discussion titled “The State of the Discipline of History” focused on institutional, curricular, archival and professional challenges facing historians in Pakistan.
Call for Association and Recommendations
Participants unanimously supported the creation of an Association of Pakistani Historians to provide a collective platform for scholars and strengthen engagement with academic institutions and public policy forums. During the concluding session, delegates reviewed the conference proceedings and adopted a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening historical research and teaching in Pakistan. They also proposed holding a second conference on the same theme in collaboration with another academic institution to sustain the momentum generated by the event.
Closing Remarks and Cultural Programme
Chairing the closing session, Prof Dr Husnul Amin commended the academic standard and organisation of the conference, describing it as one of the finest scholarly gatherings on history he had attended in Pakistan. The conference concluded with a cultural programme and visits to Mushkpuri Top, Lalazar and Ayubia, providing participants with an opportunity to experience the region’s natural and cultural heritage before departing with a renewed commitment to advancing the study of history in Pakistan.
