

The Pakistan Experience
The Pakistan Experience
The Pakistan Experience is a podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversations.
https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePakistanExperience
Also available on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
Hosted by Shehzad Ghias Shaikh
https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePakistanExperience
Also available on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
Hosted by Shehzad Ghias Shaikh
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 24, 2024 • 57min
Population, Gender Based Violence and Human Rights - Dr. Luay Shabaneh - UNFPA Pak Rep - #TPE 321
Dr. Luay Shabaneh is the Pakistan Representative of UNFPA, Dr. Luay comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss Palestine, Population Management, Gender Based Violence, Women Emancipation, The Potential of Pakistan and the Rights of the Youth.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Palestine and the United Nations
5:22 The importance of Data and Statistics
11:15 Supporting people rather than ‘controlling’ Populations
15:38 Conflating Culture with Religion in Pakistan
18:47 Supporting the Pakistani people
25:00 Economy vs Population numbers
29:30 Bangladesh, Malaysia and the importance of Education
35:00 Reproductive Education and Double standards around Women
42:30 Gender based Violence
52:00 The Rights of the Youth

Dec 22, 2023 • 1h 44min
Israel, India and Pakistan - Colonialism and Nationalism - Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy - #TPE 320
Dr. Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy is a Pakistani nuclear physicist, author, media commentator, and social activist holding a PhD from MIT.
Dr. Hoodbhoy comes back on the podcast to unpack identity, on this deep dive podcast we discuss Israel, Palestine, Religious Supremacy, Immigration, Afghan Refugees, Nationalism, Colonialism, Jehad, Political Islam, America, Bangladesh and more.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:30 Israel, Palestine and States made based on Religious Supremacy
7:51 The dangers of Ideology
17:00 Immigration and Afghan Refugees
27:30 Notions of Nationalism and Partition of India
34:00 Colonialism and Religious Nationalism
38:43 Jehad and Political Islam
44:38 Hamas, Palestine and Israel
55:25 American influence on Arab states and Pakistan
1:04:00 Why Bangladesh is doing better than Pakistan
1:09:00 India and the primacy of the religious identity
1:22:00 Audience Questions

Dec 19, 2023 • 1h 25min
Sindhi Nationalism, Mohajir Identity, PPP and the 18th Amendment - Asma Faiz - #TPE 319
Dr. Asma Faiz comes on the podcast to discuss Sindhi Nationalism, Punjabi Nationalism, PPP, The Mohajir Identity, GM Syed, 18th Amendment, MRD, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and more.
Dr. Asma Faiz is Associate Professor of Political Science at the Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She did her Ph.D. in Political Science from Sciences Po, Paris (2017) and M.Sc. in Political Science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2011). Dr. Faiz’s research focuses on ethnic nationalism, populism, ethnic parties and federalism. She is the author of the book In Search of Lost Glory: Sindhi Nationalism in Pakistan (Hurst Publishers, 2021). Dr. Faiz also edited a volume Making Federation Work: Federalism in Pakistan After the 18th Amendment (2015). Dr. Faiz is recipient of several fellowships including the Fulbright fellowship, Campus France Fellowship and the Rangoonwalla fellowship. Dr. Faiz also worked with international think tanks such as Forum of Federations and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Writing a book on Sindhi Nationalism as a Punjabi
10:00 Meanings of Nationalism and the Language Issue
23:30 Sindhi Nationalism and Identity Forming
29:44 Mohajir Identity as a Political Identity
33:30 Sindh’s historical under development
36:00 Birth of Sindhi Nationalism and State’s obsession with One-Unit
40:40 18th Amendment
46:30 GM Syed and Ethnic Parties and Movements
52:24 Is PPP a Sindhi Nationalist Party?
1:01:00 Federal Structure of Pakistan
1:03:50 The Ghost of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and MRD Movement
1:10:55 Benazir Bhutto’s return and PPP
1:17:00 Audience Questions

Dec 17, 2023 • 2h 3min
Why I disagree with PML-N's politics - Shahid Khaqan Abbasi - Elections and Establishment - #TPE 318
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is a Pakistani politician and businessman who served as the 21st prime minister of Pakistan.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss the Elections 2024, dealing with the Establishment, PML-N's politics, the return of Nawaz Sharif, General Bajwa's Extension, Hybrid Regime, Imran Khan, Tosha Khana, Foreign Policy, PIA and the LNG Case.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Elections 2024
3:00 Dealing with the Establishment and offers from the Establishment
7:16 PML-N’s Politics, PPP and Benazir’s election as Prime Minister
14:51 Has Nawaz Sharif’s Politics been buried?
19:13 General Bajwa’s Extension
21:30 Hybrid Regime, Democracy and the role of the Prime Minister
27:39 2014 Dharna, Military interference and Article 6
32:00 How to establish democracy in Pakistan, The Constitution and the rules of the Game
39:49 Specific Action Plan is needed for the Country
50:08 Nawaz Sharif’s Jalsa, Reality of Politics and Tosha Khana
1:00:21 Foreign Policy
1:04:15 Pakistan needs Radical Reform, CPEC and IPPs
1:17:20 Privatization of PIA
1:22:08 Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s LNG Case, Biding and Investments
1:35:30 Audience Questions

Dec 14, 2023 • 1h 25min
Directing Actors, Screenwriting and the Art of Film Making - Saim Sadiq - Joyland - #TPE 317
Saim Sadiq is a Pakistani Screenwriter and Filmmaker, and the Director of Joyland, short-listed for the 2023 Oscars.
Saim comes back on The Pakistan Experience for a detailed discussion on film making, from writing scripts, to directing actors, on this deep dive podcast we discuss ideas for films, the Economics of Filmmaking, Casting, Joyland, the reception to Joyland and Editing Films.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Screenwriting and ideas for Films
6:50 Mechanics of Writing a Movie and the Writing Process
15:12 The Economics of Film Making
26:00 Earlier Drafts of Joyland, Being Rejected and starting from a Short Film
30:00 Characters sounding or not sounding Punjabi
33:30 Directing Actors and working with Stars
44:00 Finding the right cast
50:13 Joyland Shooting Schedule and Finances
53:45 Editing and killing your darlings
58:00 Shooting Films and Shot lists
1:04:00 What did Saim want to explore with Joyland?
1:07:00 People reacting to the Film
1:12:00 Audience Questions

Dec 7, 2023 • 1h 27min
Income Inequality, Social Mobility and Female Labour Participation - Dr. Hadia Majid - #TPE 316
Dr. Hadia Majid comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss Income Inequality, Social Mobility and Female Participation in the Workforce. On this podcast, we discuss what is the middle class in Pakistan, BISP, direct cash transfers, Pink Busses and Economic Prescriptions for Pakistan.
Dr. Hadia Majid is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at LUMS. Her research agenda considers the impact of monetary and public resource constraints on individuals in Pakistan with a special focus on women’s access to decent, empowering work. She has published in international journals and is currently editing a book titled Gender at Work in Pakistan. She has received grants from several agencies including ESRC-DFID, Oxfam, IDRC, IGC, IFPRI among others and has acted as a consultant for numerous government and non-governmental agencies on gendered labor market outcomes. A Fulbright scholar, she has a PhD from The Ohio State University and MSc from University of Warwick.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:40 What is ‘decent’ work?
3:15 What is the middle class in Pakistan?
6:30 Income Inequality gap and Social Mobility
13:13 Women in the Labour Force, Covid and Tech
20:08 Benazir Income Support Program and Direct Cash Transfers
30:00 Women’s Education in Pakistan
33:00 Issues faced by Women in Workforce Participation and PInk Buses
43:30 Rethinking female participation in the Economy
59:45 Religion and Patriarchy
1:05:00 Education, Employment and Basic Rights
1:10:00 Economic Prescriptions and the Charter of Economy

Dec 5, 2023 • 1h 7min
Cooking Chaos, Mangobaaz and Bollywood - Yaser Puri on making Content for Youtube - #TPE 315
Yasser Puri is one half of the Youtube channel, 'Cooking Chaos', and formerly of Mangobaaz, YasserPuri comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss making content for Youtube, Mental Health, Fatherhood, Andaz Apna Apna, Dil Se, Top 5 Aamir Khan movies, Top 5 Shahrukh Khan movies and Top 3 Salman Khan movies.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and working with your Father
3:00 Cooking Chaos, Mangobaaz and The Pakistan Experience
15:00 Musicians and Artists evolving
20:00 Mental Health toll of creating content online
25:00 Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama and Political Propaganda
32:00 Moving to Canada, Fatherhood and Love
40:00 Andaz Apna Apna and Bollywood Comedy Movies
44:00 Shahrukh Khan and best Shahrukh Khan movies
54:00 Aamir Khan and his top 5 movies
58:00 Top 5 Shahrukh Khan movies
1:03:00 Top 5 Salman Khan movies

Dec 3, 2023 • 5min
Ceasefire Ended - Gaza being bombed - Fake 'doll' claims go viral - Israel's Propaganda - Part 5
A new series that looks to destroy the myths around Israel and Palestine, and respond to popular talking points on the media.
The fifth video in the series looks at the fake news going viral.
Playlist with all the parts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcV24IjGvaI&list=PLlQZ9NZnjq5rLRgO6g6t83p2DMinxr-4b
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89

Dec 2, 2023 • 2h 17min
Memon Culture, Cricket in Pakistan and Pakistan's Economic Challenges - Uzair Younus - #TPE 314
Uzair Younus comes back on The Pakistan Experience to discuss his visit to Karachi, Memon Culture, Gujrati Heritage, why India is thriving Economically and Pakistan is not, the Fitness issues of the Pakistani cricket team, stunted child growth in Pakistan, the Pakistani elites, 18th Amendment, Elections, PTI, PML-N, Smuggling, Chaliya and more.
Uzair Younus is the director of the Pakistan Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center.
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Introduction and Uzair’s popularity in India
3:00 Uzair’s visit to Karachi
6:00 Language issue, Gujarati, Memons and Homogenization of cultures
18:00 Difference in Gujrati Memons and Pakistani Memons
22:00 Why is India thriving Economically and Pakistan is not?
27:30 Sports and Pakistan’s rejection of the Scientific Method
32:00 Pakistani cricketers fitness issues and the Sports Board
42:00 Pakistan needs to focus on Education and Healthcare
46:00 The Pakistani elites don’t care about the Pakistani public
55:00 Local Taxation and the 18th Amendment
1:03:00 Finance Minister won’t be able to fix everything
1:05:30 Difference in Indian and Pakistani Finance Ministry
1:10:00 Elections: PTI vs PML-N
1:19:00 Propaganda in Pakistan and Political musical chairs
1:28:00 Riko Deq
1:33:00 Jehangir Tareen's seed policy and Smuggling on the borders
1:41:00 Audience Questions

Nov 30, 2023 • 30min
The many lies told by Israel - The Release of Hostages - Pallywood - War is Ugly - Shehzad Ghias
A new series that looks to destroy the myths around Israel and Palestine, and respond to popular talking points on the media.
The fourt part of the series looks at the release of Hostages, Israel keeping thousands of Palestinians hostage, Elon Musk's PR stunt, "Pallywood" and debunking popular propaganda talking points.
Playlist with all the parts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcV24IjGvaI&list=PLlQZ9NZnjq5rLRgO6g6t83p2DMinxr-4b
The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
To support the channel:
Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912
Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience
And Please stay in touch:
https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1
https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience
https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience
The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications.
Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh
Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/
Twitter.com/shehzad89
Chapters
0:00 Elon Musk's tour and Zionist Propaganda
2:48 Myth 23: The IDF can be trusted
7:42 Myth 24: The Ministry of Health and the Death Count
10:13 The Vile Pallywood campaign and Debunking Viral Propaganda
15:00 Hostages vs Prisoners and Indoctrination
20:00 Myth 25: "War is Ugly"
25:30 Global Solidarity for Palestine