PROVINCE REPORT
MARDAN: Women University Mardan (WUM) and Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) jointly organised a two-day International Art and Culture Conference at Khanaspur, Galiyat, bringing together national and international scholars, researchers, academics, artists and cultural practitioners.
The conference was held under the chief patronage of WUM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana, with AWKUM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Jamil Ahmad serving as patron. Dr. Fazli Sattar and Ms. Haleema Ikram, Director ORIC, WUM, served as focal persons from AWKUM and WUM respectively.
The event was organised in collaboration with Dosti Welfare Organization, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Gallery 21. Of 76 abstracts received, 52 were approved by the Conference Committee.
The first day focused on the theme “Art, Identity & Cultural Heritage.” The inaugural session featured keynote addresses by Prof. Dr. Tayyaba Aziz, Professor Emeritus, University of Peshawar, and Rt. Gen. Humayun Bangash, while international keynote speakers included Dr. Lucca Maria from Italy and Ivan Carmody, Arts Educationist from Ireland.
Prof. Dr. Razia Sultana and Prof. Dr. Jamil Ahmad highlighted the importance of academic collaboration, cultural preservation and promoting research in the fields of art and culture.
The conference was attended by Vice Chancellor University of Buner Prof. Dr. Jamshed Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor University of Hazara Prof. Dr. Ikramullah Khan Marwat, Rt. Maj. Gen. Farrukh Seir, Owner of Gallery 21, Dr. Abasin Yousafzai of Pashto Academy Peshawar, Dr. Gulzar Jalal, Dr. Sadeed Arif and other scholars, artists and cultural practitioners.
The proceedings included two book launches authored by Aurangzeb Khan Sahir of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, shield distribution, a painting exhibition and technical sessions on “Art and Identity” and “Cultural Heritage & Preservation.”
Speakers and researchers discussed subjects including political imagery and vernacular truck art, feminist theories of art and identity, art and design pedagogy in the age of artificial intelligence, archaeological landscapes, Gandharan civilisation, and digital documentation of Buddhist and Muslim archaeological heritage.
A major highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among WUM, AWKUM and Gallery 21, represented by Rt. Maj. Gen. Farrukh Seir. The agreement aims to promote joint initiatives in art, culture, research, education, exhibitions and creative activities.
The conference provided a platform for scholarly interaction, artistic expression, networking and cultural exchange, while reaffirming the participating institutions’ commitment to research, cultural preservation and national and international academic cooperation.
