LAHORE: The 15th Annual Thaap Conference opened on Friday, bringing together distinguished academics, young researchers and leading scholars from across Pakistan to explore the theme “Culture and Life in the Sabta Sindhu: From Harappa Culture (7000 BC) to European Colonialism (1600 CE).”
The inaugural session opened with a warm welcome address by Prof Sajida Haider Vandal, CEO Thaap, who received the guests and scholars. She reaffirmed Thaap’s commitment to advancing research, safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting indigenous traditions.
Pervaiz Vandal, the conference convener, presented the vision and intellectual direction of the conference, underscoring the importance of examining the Indus Basin as an interconnected cultural landscape shaped by its rivers, communities, economies and traditions.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, Pro Vice Chancellor, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, and Unesco Chair on Sustainable Urban Regions. He explored the cultural significance of the Indus Basin and its importance in understanding the region’s historical development.
The inaugural session concluded with remarks by Chief Guest Prof Dr Raheel Qamar, rector Comsats University, Islamabad. He discussed the evolution of civilisations and highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming everyday life and revolutionising professional practices.
Chaired by Dr Fareeha Zafar, the first session explored historical landscapes, ancient writing systems and Lahore’s epigraphic heritage. Fakhra Hassan Syed examined flood memory and environmental knowledge through the landscape and archaeological remains of the Sarfaranga Cold Desert in the Upper Indus Basin. Dr Anila Zulfiqar presented a comparative visual analysis of pictographic elements in Harappan, Egyptian and Mesopotamian writing systems, examining their patterns and communicative functions.
The third paper, “Qata’at Tarikh: in the Epigraphy of Lahore,” authored by Kaleemullah Lashari and read out by Zainab, highlighted the historical and literary value of Lahore’s inscriptions and the need to document and preserve this significant record.
The second session, chaired by Asim Imdad, focused on civilisational transitions, river-based commerce and traditional societies.
Dr Khataumal Lohano traced the subcontinent’s historical transformation from the Indus Valley Civilisation to European colonial rule.
Waqar Mustafa examined the Ravi River’s role as a historic trade route connecting Lahore with Multan and Sindh over several centuries. Irfan Fazil Wallarah reconstructed the social and cultural life of the Sandal Bar before British canal colonisation, highlighting pastoral traditions, kinship structures, folklore and oral poetry.
Dr Chaman Hussain explored language politics in the Indus Civilisation, examining the possible relationship between writing systems, symbols, authority and social organisation.
Chaired by Shahid Nadeem, the third session examined archaeological evidence, cultural continuity and the visual traditions of ancient civilisations. Talha Shafiq explored Lahore’s early history through archaeological artefacts, tracing connections from the Harappan tradition to the early Islamic period. Ms Maria Tahir reviewed the Indus Valley Civilisation, focusing on its urban planning, craftsmanship, trade networks and social organisation. Prof Dr Kiran Shahid Siddiqui examined dress as a form of nonverbal communication in Gandhara art, exploring how clothing and adornment reflected social status, identity and religious affiliation.
The two-day conference continues on Saturday (today) with research presentations and academic discussions.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026
