Kashmir: The Unfinished Agenda of Partition
Lt Col (r) Syed Iftikhar Ahmed
Royal Book Company

The book provides the complete history of Jammu & Kashmir, from the rule of the Mughals followed by the Sikhs and Britishers and how the latter left the Subcontinent after dividing it into two dominions, Pakistan and India, while leaving Kashmir in limbo.

Kashmir, which has a Muslim majority, has since then remained the main source of friction between Pakistan and India. The people of Kashmir, meanwhile, continue to struggle for their freedom. Pakistan has always stood firmly with the Kashmiris, while India-occupied Kashmir is constantly experiencing violations of human rights in the form of atrocities from India.

The book categorically updates readers about each and every hurdle faced through history by the Kashmiris, to help them gain an in-depth understanding of this unfinished agenda of Partition.

Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud: A Modern Face of Islam
Mahboob Ali Shaikh
Zeenine Design Print & Signs

Set to take the throne, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Saud is considered by some to be the most influential man in the world. The book claims the present is a unique opportunity for global re-engagement with the Saudi Arabian kingdom and presents the case of the significance of Saudi Arabia for both Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

This adulatory book recognises MBS’s forward-thinking approach and his dedication to free market principles, which the author believes has the potential to unlock rapid economic growth in the Middle East.

Alchemy of Shifting Sands
Noor Ahmed Janjhi
Seven Star Printers & Publishers

The book is reflective of the author’s panoramic view on various subjects — from Sufism in Sindh to the Indus Valley Civilisation, from the history of Sindh with respect to his native Tharparkar and the Talpur period. It also carries profiles of famous people of Sindh as well as the world, including Misri Shah, Sachal Sarmast, Doolah Darya Khan, Dr Annemarie Schimmel, Nikola Tesla and Karl Marx.

Pakistan — Splendors of the Yore
Safdar Nensey
Cinnamonteal Design & Publishing

This is the fifth offering from the author, known for his beautifully put-together coffee table books. Based on his personal collection of forgotten Pakistan-related ephemera, coins, postcards, photographs, rare books, vintage advertisements, metal art and memorabilia, it is an informally structured attempt to capture the substance of eras gone by.

The visual compilation of pictures takes one on a journey through time while also offering some reference material for those who would like to gain a bit of perspective about Pakistan’s past. The various and contrasting subjects of the pictures depict the country’s natural transformation, which has a distinct character of its own despite all the changes of space and time.

The surrounding landscape is as much a part of the country’s present as its museums’ treasures, accumulated through past centuries. Both these traits are essential features of present-day Pakistan that make it special.

Impacting Lives: My Journey as an International Development Banker
Dr Kaiser Naseem
Notion Press

A memoir by a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, who is an international development banker and has helped in developing financial institutions and innovative business models in challenging environments, is a journey over four decades of the author’s career. It covers key experiences and learnings through real stories of how development finance affects lives.

The book also shares glimpses of the Cold War era, the role of the United Nations in today's world and offers a personal perspective on the importance of sustainable development and why reforms at the World Bank Group are long overdue.

A Night in Managua & Other Stories
Asir Ajmal
World View Publishers

This is a collection of stories with an autobiographical element by an academic, psychologist, poet and storyteller. Each of the 20 stories in this thin book convey a meaningful message. And in doing so, they also explore love, fear, guilt and redemption, though with imagination also bringing in an element of fantasy.

As the author says himself in the preface: “Perhaps fantasy can turn sad memories into joyful remembrances; maybe it can even change history. In these stories, I have rewritten history… while refusing to accept reality as it is. Whether the reader likes it or not, these narratives help bring closure to the unfinished business of my life.”

A Legislative Odyssey (2012-2018)
Senator Dr Karim Ahmed Khuwaja
Farid Publishers

The book by a former senator aims to unveil how efforts made in the upper house can practically impact the lives of individuals. It underscores how diverse affiliations can either facilitate or impede progress, depending on the interplay between personal and political interests. Through measurable formats, backed by bills, resolutions, motions and more, it provides a comprehensive view of the proceedings and outcomes of each initiative from Pakistan’s Senate during the author’s time there.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, February 23rd, 2025