Pakistan Lost: Ideas On The Idea Of Pakistan

What went wrong with the idea of Pakistan, and what could possibly set it right? "Pakistan Lost: Ideas on the Idea of Pakistan" by Shehzad Ghias is a bold and thought-provoking exploration of the country’s political imagination and its many missed opportunities. Known as one of Pakistan’s leading podcasters, Ghias brings his sharp wit and analytical insight from the mic to the page, discussing decades of unresolved tensions in the nation’s story. Drawing on intensive research and historical reflection, the book revisits pivotal questions – the federalist promise of the Lahore Resolution, the place of minorities, the politics of language and identity, the enduring civil-military imbalance and the recurring crises of constitutionalism and populism. At once personal and political, 'Pakistan Lost' seeks not merely to critique, but to reclaim – to rediscover the intellectual roots and moral compass that once defined the idea of Pakistan. This discussion brings together the author Shehzad Ghias, alongside Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy – physicist, columnist and author – in conversation with Sabrina Quamber, a practitioner of security and conflict resolution, as moderator. Together, they will explore how the past continues to shape Pakistan’s present – and what imagination might still redeem its future.