

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

Aug 5, 2023 • 58min
Imran Khan, The Establishment and the Death of Democracy in Pakistan - Raza Rumi - #TPE 284
Raza Rumi comes on The Pakistan Experience with bombshell revelations,
What will happen to Imran Khan?
What was the plan on 9th May?
Is this the end of Democracy in Pakistan?
Will PML-N sweep Punjab?
Find out this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.
Raza Ahmad Rumi is a Pakistani policy analyst, journalist who Is the editor of Pakistan's English-language daily Daily Times and chief editor of the online media platforms Naya Daur Media and partner site New Wave Media.
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
2:20 Post Imran Khan Reality
6:00 Establishment fighting over the Pie
10:30 Standing with PDM vs PTI
14:30 Fighting Populism around the world
17:40 There is no Economic Plan
20:30 Military controlling everything
29:00 Blaming the politicians
34:45 New Political Reality post 9th May
43:30 Audience Questions

Jul 31, 2023 • 1h 25min
Titan Submersible, Feminism and Desi Crushes - Live with Tamkenat and Mariam - TPE Live XIV
A special live stream with Mariam Shafqat and Tamkenat Mansoor celebrating 4 years of The Pakistan Experience!
This is the return of Bachodiyan you have all been waiting for.
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

Jul 29, 2023 • 1h 51min
What Economists get wrong - Taimur Rahman on the Left's Economic Alternative - #TPE 283
Taimur Rahman is a Pakistani college professor, political activist and musician who is the Secretary-General of the Mazdoor Kisan Party, formerly Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party. He is the lead guitarist and spokesperson for the progressive music band Laal.
Dr. Taimur Rahman comes back on The Pakistan Experience to discuss the Left's Economic Alternatives, the shortfalls of Neoliberal Economic theory, Privatization, Bhutto's Nationalization, and why the Left in Pakistan doesn't unite.
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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 Is IMF Pakistan’s only option?
5:15 is IMF nefarious?
13:00 Dollars, Exports and Trade Competitive
21:00 IMF Directing Pakistan’s Policy
29:30 Establishment controlling policy
36:00 Bhutto’s Nationalization
42:00 Privatisation and Questioning the Free Market Economy
52:00 Private Banks, State Bank and Lending
1:02:00 Private Enterprise vs State Production
1:13:30 Privatisation of PIA
1:17:50 Audience Questions
1:24:00 Divisions in the Left in Pakistan
1:37:00 Imran Khan and Neo-colonial state
1:38:00 Identity Politics
1:40:30 Q and A

Jul 23, 2023 • 1h 54min
Full UNCENSORED Podcast with Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza on Islam, Pakistan and Blasphemy #TPE 282
Full Uncensored version of the podcast with Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza.
Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza is one of Pakistan's most popular Islamic scholars and commentators. @EngineerMuhammadAliMirzaClips
Engineer Mirza comes on the podcast for a comprehensive discussion on Islam, Pakistan and Politics, he answers all your questions about him, his work and Islam. On this deep dive podcast, we discuss Domestic Violence, Womens Rights, Blasphemy Law, TLP, Firqawariat, the authenticity of Ahadith, Islamic Jurisprudence, Divorce, Nikah, Hijab 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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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 Translation vs Interpretation Debate
7:48 Gendered Language
11:20 Surah Al-Nisa and Domestic Violence
16:18 Marital R*pe
18:38 Divorce
23:10 Abrogation Principle
27:40 4 Witnesses for Zina
29:58 Invasion of Privacy
31:00 Weak vs Authentic Ahadith
37:24 Blasphemy Law
47:45 Democracy in Islam
49:50 Ishq-e-Mijazi in Sufism
51:30 Nikkah and Zina
53:20 Areas of non-expertise
55:30 The State-Clergy Nexus
58:00 Moulvis who are wrong numbers and Takabur
1:02:30 Islamic Touch Politics
1:11:10 Aurat kee kamayee haram hay?
1:12:00 Is Hijab Compulsory?
1:15:30 Children in Madrassas
1:20:00 People making money on Youtube using Islam
1:23:00 Malik Riaz
1:27:50 Interest in Banking
1:30:10 Shia Hatred
1:33:00 Faith, Belief and Science
1:38:30 Being Friends with Jews and Christians
1:41:00 Did the Establishment launch Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza
1:46:45 Free will vs Pre Destiny

Jul 6, 2023 • 1h 29min
How to be an Entrepreneur - Zeeshaan Shah on how he built a billion dollar company - TPE 281
Zeeshaan Shah is a Multi-award Winning Entrepreneur, Zeeshaan Shah is the Chairman & Founder of the ONE Group, a diversified global real estate and venture capital firm and Pakistan's Honorary Ambassador-at-Large.
On this episode of The Pakistan Experience Zeeshaan Shah discusses Business, Entrepreneurship, Dropping out from school, starting from scratch and the importance of Hard Work.
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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
1:51 Teenage Years in Karachi, Distaste for a 9-5 job, University years, being a phone salesman in UK
19:23 Relocation to Dubai, real estate, knowing when to move on, Prince naseem & Floyd Mayweather
29:57 Starting fresh in the UK, The apprentice, scaling up businesses
45:23 Investing in Pakistan, Pakistani energy sector and IPPs, Debt Servicing, making a business plan for the country
1:01:31 incentivising important industries, diverting money away from real estate, localisation of production, barriers to freelancing, learning from failure
1:21:53 Audience Questions

Jul 2, 2023 • 1h 52min
How Karachi is being destroyed by the Real Estate Mafia - Hafeez Baloch - #TPE 280
Apologies for the audio for the first 40 minutes, light chali gayee toh we lost the Rodecaster audio. Its fine after 41 minutes.
Hafeez Baloch is an activist, and a part of the Awaami Workers Party and the Indigenous Sindh Rights Alliance.
Hafeez Baloch comes on The Pakistan Experience for a brave and daring episode of podcast, where we discuss Climate Change, Indigenous Rights of Sindh, Bahria Town, the Real Estate Mafia, the Baloch History of Karachi, 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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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 Introduction1:32 Climate Change, failings of the system and govt, real estate mafia, identity politics,the Muhajir Identity, Karachi and its place in Sindh15:12 The constitution, Social contact, institution using divide and rule & the need to strengthen the constitution28:00 Struggles of the Indigenous people in Sindh, Gentrification, history of Karachi, origins of area names in Karachi45:21 History of the Indigenous lands Bahria town is built on, Sassi Pannu, Kirthar National Park1:00:00 Biparjoy, removal of Mangrove trees, River Systems and flooding, Malir Expressway, SEPA, Bahria Town's Land Grabbing,1:23:23 Criticism, implementation of laws, assassinations, illegality and political influence of Bahria Town, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr., 1:36:34Sindhi and Balochi identities, Feudal system, electables, creating a new system and Social Contract, resilience of Balochi culture in Lyari

7 snips
Jun 25, 2023 • 1h 50min
How to become a Content Creator, Karachi's Issues, MQM and PPP - Daniyal Sheikh - TPE #279
Daniyal Sheikh is a podcaster, content creator and the co-founder of Karachi Vines.
Daniyal comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss Karachi's issues, the Mayor elections, the art of content creation, why he started doing podcasts, the Karachi of the 90s, MQM, PPP, Street Crime and Mental Health.
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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
01:13 how to be a party supporter, getting a golden visa for Dubai, & Karachi’s mayoral election
13:47 local government, mayoral issues, comparing Karachi, how continuation of govt impacts performance and Sindh Gov
29:45 Karachi v Sindh & identity politics, Bahria Town & DHA, street crime, policing, and black markets
40:00 Karachi’s major problems, safe city cameras, policing, mobile thieves, kachra, the old MQM
52:26 Cantt areas in Karachi, dealing with hate as an online personality, Azam Khan, choosing how to spend your social battery
1:05:23 annoying calls, responding to messages, Khalid Butt, how Karachi Vines began, food and daily vlogs
1:16:45 sports & Rumman Raees, “bachodi”, his Instagram placards, approached by BBK Vines
1:24:59 thinking about trends and logistics when making content, mean comments and trolls, diff between podcasts and TV Shows
1:36:13 Audience Questions

Jun 18, 2023 • 8min
Pakistan Lost - Ep. 09 - Pakistan's Fundamental Problem
Pakistan Lost is a series of audio essays on history exploring the choices that were made that impacted millions of people for decades to come.
In the last episode of the series, we look at why Pakistanis are not taught to respect the Constitution.
Watch all the episodes of Pakistan Lost:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HVcorSr-vM&list=PLlQZ9NZnjq5qRLMfNjRNQyCTBkT0etuaZ
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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

Jun 15, 2023 • 1h 28min
Sufism, The Philosophy of Music and Left Politics in Pakistan - Arieb Azhar - #TPE 278
Arieb Azhar as a multi talented artist who has made significant contributions to the music and cultural scene of Pakistan.
As a musician he was a pioneer in interpreting and performing Punjabi Sufi on the guitar for urban audiences. As a festival organizer, Arieb co-founded the highly successful 'Music Mela Festival of Islamabad' and curated its first three editions and later established his own festival platform 'Art Langar'. From 2018 to 2020 he served as Executive Director of T2F Karachi during which time he also curated the 3rd edition of the Creative Karachi Festival.
Arieb also conceived and produced the award-winning feature documentary 'Indus Blues', directed by Jawad Sharif which shed light on the rich musical heritage of Pakistan. His latest achievement has been the highly successful production of the theatre play 'The River's Daughter', directed by Kulsoom Aftab of which Arieb was the playwright and producer while also playing the villainous role of Pir Tota Sain.
Having grown up in the 80-s left movement of Karachi, and later spending 13 years in Croatia where he first hand witnessed the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Arieb's artistic expression is imbued with a sociopolitical sensibility and a love of folk culture.
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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
1:16 Theater & Live Performance, folk music, Shamrock Rovers, Sports, Zagreb and war
9:48 Hardship & songs, humor and political correctness, how music & dance are natural, and the power of words like Ohm
20:25 Training your ear, journey of an artist, social media and its ills
29:28 Cultures and identity in Pakistan, spread of molvism, differences & insecurity
38:56 Aurangzeb, Wahhabism and “culture”, our harmonious cultural history, where “India” comes from
48:36 Atheism and finding spirituality, psychedelics, UK & drunk behavior, Tolkien & Celtic mythology and Irish Music
1:01:07 Our history of song & dance, lost legends, Pakistan’s lack of archiving, radio Pakistan, and his father Aslam Azhar
1:11:58 Audience Questions

Jun 12, 2023 • 2h 23min
Building an I.T. Infrastructure in Pakistan, Education and Punjab Gov - Dr. Umar Saif - #TPE 277
Dr. Umar Saif comes on the podcast for an extremely informative discussion on the state of Information Technology in Pakistan; from why Pakistani Universities are failing to produce high level graduates to how political instability is destroying Pakistan's progress, on this deep dive podcast we discuss I.T., India, I.I.Ts, Higher Education, LUMS, PITB, Punjab Government, ITU, and how I.T. was used in Government projects in Punjab.
Dr. Umar Saif is the founder and CEO of aiSight.ai (formerly SurveyAuto.com). He is the CEO of Khudi Ventures, Pakistan's largest venture studio. He works as the Chief Digital Officer of the Jang/Geo group. He is also an advisor to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan.
Previously, Dr. Saif was a cabinet member in Government of Punjab and served as the Chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). His work led to a radical digital transformation of the government in Punjab and several of his initiatives were replicated throughout the country. He was the founding Vice Chancellor of ITU and established it as one of premier technology universities in Pakistan. Dr. Saif founded Plan9, Pakistan’s first government-backed startup incubator, as well as Punjab’s e-rozgaar program. He is often cited as one of the main forces behind Pakistan's startup ecosystem.
Dr. Saif received his PhD in Computer Science in 2001 at University of Cambridge and worked at MIT for several years before returning to Pakistan. He was the first Pakistani to be named as one of the top 35 young innovators in the world by the MIT Technology Review (TR35) and the first Pakistani to receive a Google faculty research award in 2011. He was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2010. He has received the MIT Technovator Award, Mark Weiser Award, IDG Technology Pioneer Award and the British Council Outstanding Alumni Award. Dr. Saif was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2014, one of the highest civil awards by government of Pakistan. He was named among the 500 most influential Muslims in the world consecutively between 2015-2020. In 2018, he was awarded the UNESCO Chair for using ICT for Development. Dr. Saif has founded several technology companies and serves on the board of various private, public and financial institutions.
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/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://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
2:07 His PHD from Cambridge, being a professor at LUMS, teaching at MIT, and why Pakistan is left behind compared to Indian IITs
19:14 What our universities lack, his IT university, and how universities work abroad, the quality of our PHDs
29:46 Why he felt he could make a difference and how he joined the government
43:01 Government Issues & Punjab’s digitization of land records
55:55 Shahbaz Sharif and sales tax crowdsourcing, black economies, UPI and digitization
1:09:28 How India has digitized, importance of cash in Pakistan and India’s demonetization, and our lack of import substitution
1:17:59 Atoms and how they started, IT exports, remittances, tech industry in India vs Pakistan
1:33:31 What’s stopping PayPal in Pak, unicorn culture in India,
1:38:55 Audience Questions


