Theme: Aashkaar-e-Rang

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LAHORE (Future Campus Pine Avenue)
941/942 Al-Biruni Rd, Off Pine Avenue, Edenabad
Lahore, Punjab, 54000
Pakistan

Amna Niazi

Chef / Food Connoisseur

Growing up in the 1980s as the third daughter of a conservative Pathan household meant that Amina Niazi experienced limited autonomy. With every breath, she felt suffocated, noticing the sighs and disgust of those around her because she was a girl and not a boy. However, an opportunity knocked down her barred door in the form of college. Here, she learned to raise her voice against prejudice through competitive debate competitions. Despite this, she was unable to get rid of her traumatic past which followed her like a shadow at all times. The turning point for her came while vacationing in the streets of Italy, where taking a cooking class became the key to the puzzle she had struggled with her whole life. She fell in love with cooking and, through it, with herself. Today, she explores the hidden cuisines of Pakistan. Through her platform, she knocks at the barred doors and is the aroma of the freshly baked bread guiding others to love themselves.

Asad Raza

Student Speaker I Cultural Philogist

Presenting our Student Speaker and the Head Boy for ISL Pine Avenue, Asad Raza. Mined from the rich earth of Kallar Kahar, traversing the vibrant landscape of the country, and experiencing the diversity of Pakistan, Asad has become one of the gems that have taken on the responsibility to carry the torch of the past into the future. Having fluency in six languages through his indulgence in the stories and tales birthed from this land sparked his deep passion and advocacy for the revival of the indigenous languages of Pakistan. “Without our connection to our languages we are lost, having abandoned our only guide.” Inspired by literary giants, he too has picked up the pen with an ambitious project to publish a collection of his poetry in six languages. His activism has also seeped into his school life, in his relentless campaigns for the introduction of a Punjabi section in the school library alongside his awareness campaigns centred around the revival of indigenous languages.

Fatima Amjed

Performing Artist

Fatima Amjed is a Performing Artist dedicated to revitalizing classical dance, a form of dance that appears to be taking a back foot in the dance culture of Pakistan. Fatima's fusion dance performances, where she views the classical world through a lens of contemporary performing styles, epitomize her approach to solving this problem. Under her directorship, Baeyyet, a local dance studio, artfully harmonizes the fields of classical dance and theatre in an environment where young talents can engage in innovative artistic expression. Her choreography classes seek to continue the historical and cultural traditions without alienating the modern audience. Beyond her work with Baeyyet, Fatima performs in the historic Walled City of Lahore, where her vibrant performance on the backdrop of the bricked buildings and narrow lanes symbolizes the themes ever present in her work .

Hashim Ali

Art Director

Hashim Ali is an experienced speaker, and art director, with exposure to the polarities the world has to offer having lived in both, the East in Pakistan and the West in Rome. His early education in his native country was layered by his higher education in Rome allowing him to take in two distinct cultures very early on. This early life was instrumental in his emphasis on the preservation and importance of our cultural stories. He came in the public eye through his work on the music video for "Pasoori," where his unique visual storytelling blended modern and traditional South Asian elements, bringing the vibrant culture of Pakistan to the global stage lending the video its virality. A voice for his land on the global stage, Hashim challenges the negative stereotypes against his people. He has taken on the burden of imparting his love for his culture to the younger generations and thus, serves as a crucial voice for us as our art begins to gain international acclaim.

Hussain Butt

Food Blogger

Hussain Butt is the creative force behind Butt Eats, a platform that brings Pakistan’s rich culinary landscape to life, one post at a time. With a passion for both- street food and gourmet experiences, Hussain doesn’t just capture the textures of the food. Instead, he allows the audience an immersive experience: one where they feel every sting of the spice lingering on their lips long after just viewing his work. For him, this documentation is not just about the food we eat in Pakistan. But, it is about the stories and traditions embedded within each recipe passed down through generations and cherished by families across the country. Every piece of work produced by Hussain is a testament to his commitment to authenticity. His work is a labor of love, just like the food he posts about. Hussain Butt, through his efforts, ensures that the flavors of Pakistan are experienced not only in the present but are also understood, appreciated, and preserved for future generations.

Justin Bibis

Musical Duo

The two sisters grew up without formal education, money, and opportunities. The only thing they did have was music. Their rhythmic voices echoing off the peeling paint on the exposed cement walls became their source of joy and happiness in an otherwise hopeless situation. They shared their love of music with the world in 2013 when their cover of Justin Bieber’s "Baby" went viral, changing their lives forever. Their successive releases, like “Peechay Hut”, later featured on Marvel’s Ms. Marvel as well, and “Next11 Anthem”, became fan favorites. The Bibis have also contributed to numerous OSTs and TVCs. The Justin Bibis are a testament to how music can serve as a source of joy in the darkest of times and, given the proper platform, can spread that love to a large audience. The Justin Bibis continue to inspire, reminding us that hope can be found even in the darkest of places with something as small as a musical note.