KARACHI, May 14: A national history conference will open at a local hotel on Sunday morning, says a press release. It adds that Syed Nasir Abbas, Hidayat Hussain, Zahoor Ahmed Khan and Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal will deliver the welcome remarks.

The welcome address will be delivered by the administrator of the Urdu University, Aftab Ahmed Khan.

The first session of the conference will see Prof Zafar Ali Khan speak on "The role of colonialism in the promotion of Western capitalism", Dr Mubarak Ali on "The ideological roots of colonialism", and Dr Tahir Kamran on "Colonialism: ideology and its application to the subcontinent".

Dr Riazul Islam will preside over the first session. Prof Nargis Rashid will be co-chair. Prof Israr Siddiqui will conduct the seminar.

In the second session of the conference, Prof Pervez Windal will speak on "Colonialism and architecture", Nadeem Umar on "Orientalism and the history of Pakistan", Dr Tahira Shahid Ali Khan on "Colonialism and gender discrimination" and Bilal Ahmed on "Estrangement between an individual and a colonial state".

Dr Ansar Zahid will preside over the session. Dr Javed Hasan will be co-chair. Prof Sajid Hussain will conduct the session.

The third session of the conference will see Dr Syed Jafar Ahmed speak on "The political strategy of an imperial power: a historical analysis", Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui on "Colonial era and the education of English literature", Prof Aijaz Qureishi on "The impact of colonialism on Sindh", and Saud-ul-Hasan Khan on "The role of the judiciary during colonialism".

Prof Akhlaq Akhtar Hameedi will preside over the session. Prof Riaz Siddiqui will be co-chair. Prof Asad Humayun will conduct the session.

The concluding remarks will be delivered by Dr Jamiluddin Aali, deputy chairman of the senate of Urdu University.