TEDx comes to Karachi


Express June 01, 2010

KARACHI: Eighteen minutes is all it takes to share a brilliant idea, believes TED (Technology-Entertainment-Design), a nonprofit organisation working on a more intangible front to spread ideas worth spreading.

With the help of the organisation, the same platform is being created in Karachi. TEDx Karachi is a TED programme that enables communities to host their own independent events where people from diverse backgrounds can come and create interlinked solutions to common problems.

The event is being held at the Southend Club on June 4 from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. The theme of the discussion is “What Pakistan Needs Now” and the panellists include curator of TED Chris Anderson, founder and CEO Jacqueline Novogratz of the Acumen Fund, a nonprofit global venture against poverty, CEO of Engro Asad Umar and a theatrical artist Joshinder Chaggar.

The speakers will present their thoughts on what the country needs and help stimulate discussion in which the rest of the participants will be encouraged to join.

“Communication is the key to solving and dissolving conflicts within thoughts or actions,” said Naveed Qazi , president and CEO of JS Bank, who is helping to organise the event. “Addressing and voicing feelings residing within us and sharing them is the only step towards positive progress.”

According to him, the event will help in following this path of progress.

Talking along the same vein, CEO of Aman Foundation Ahsan Jamil, whose efforts also lie behind the event, said that old problems need new solutions. “We need new ideas and fresh approaches to solve problems of development, especially of the poor and the third world. TED provides an excellent forum and platform for sharing new ideas and promoting unfettered thinking.”

TEDx Karachi has been organised by a team of individuals including Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a TED Fellow, Dr Awab Alvi, TED India Fellow and Asad Rahman, TED India Attendee.

The event is the first of its kind. It is by invitation only and those from the general public have been selected through an essay and film competition.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Awab Alvi | 13 years ago | Reply The list of speakers taking part can be read at http://tedxkarachi.com/Speakers while the event will be live streamed on the 4th on the URL http://tedxkarachi.com/LIVE
Nadir El Edroos | 13 years ago | Reply Amazing!
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