The Pakistan Experience

Dr. Shahram Azhar is a Marxist and Professor of Economics at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Dr Shahram Azhar is also a lover of poetry and a singer, he was the former lead singer of the band 'Laal'.    Shahram comes on The Pakistan Experience for a deep dive discussion on the Pakistani left and the economy of Pakistan.    We discuss: 1. Why the Pakistani left is stuck in the 1960s 2. The erosion of decency in Pakistani politics 3. The role of the establishment in politics 4. The role of PPP and the legacy of Benazir Bhutto 5. How Marxism can shape the future 6. Has PTI failed to manage the economy?  7. Has the hybrid regime failed? 8. Colonialism 9. Why God has blessed Shahram Azhar with such a beautiful voice    The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.  Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Kapil Dev is a Hindu rights activist living in Pakistan.    Kapil Dev comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss the discrimination he has faced as a Hindu in Pakistan, facing backlash online, dealing with Pakistani Expats and the state of Tharparkar.  Kapil also discusses the recent post by Aamir Liaquat Hussain. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

One of your favourite guests, Natalia Gul, returns to the podcast after her wedding for a check in about married life, her work with The Jungle and radical comedy.   Natalia tells us how she fell in love, discusses how she got married and tells us how she is living her life these days. Always a pleasure to listen to her!   Natalia Gul is a stand up comedian and content creator. She runs a company called 'The Jungle' in Karachi that specializes in live events.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Karamat Ali is a labour rights activist and the Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research in Pakistan.An eminent labour and development activist for the last four decades, Karamat Ali is the founding member of PILER.   We get into a deep dive discussion about why there is so much apathy in the country about the issue of Bonded Labour and what happened at the Baldia Factory fire.   How big an issue is Bonded Labour?  What is the state and future of Labour movements in Pakistan?   This is the seventh and last of our seven part special series in collaboration with the Pak-US Alumni Network titled, 'Conversations for Change', where we discuss pressing social issues, and have conversations about them with experts.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Dr. Taimur Rahman is a Professor at LUMS, leads the band 'Laal', is the General Secretary of the Mazdoor Kissan Party and a leftist social activist.  Taimur comes on the podcast to make a case for Marxism being the best system of governance for Pakistan.  In this deep dive discussion, we discuss how the state of Pakistan can move towards poverty alleviation, escape the debt trap and the state of the organized left in Pakistan.   What is classical Marxism? Is Communism the answer to our issues? Is the notion of the state archaic?  Hear us discuss this and more on this week's episode of The Pakistan Experience.   The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Sarah Munir is a teacher, Fulbright scholar and a journalist. She has previously worked at Twitter - she comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss Social Media, US-Pak relations, globalization and the future of humanity.   We get into a deep dive discussion about the role social media plays in our society.  Has Social Media been revolutionary? Has it helped give people a voice?  or has it been co-opted by the powerful and the status quo?  How dangerous are social echo chambers?   This is the sixth of our seven part special series in collaboration with the Pak-US Alumni Network titled, 'Conversations for Change', where we discuss pressing social issues, and have conversations about them with experts.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.  We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.   https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

The Bachodiyan gang, Usman, Lilith, Mariam Shafqat Goraya, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh, are joined by Ekta and Sajeer for a special Valentines Day Bachodiyan where we talk about our relationships, our loves, childhood trauma, emotional abuse, red flags and parents.  How was our first time? What was the best time? What to look for in a relationship? How do we deal with trolls who abuse us?  Find out in this four hour marathon of Bachodiyan with Usman Rana (IG: Usmannic), Lilith (IG: Lilith_hannum) and Mariam Shafqat Goraya (IG: Mariamgoraya)  Nothing said on Bachodiyan is meant to be taken seriously.  Bachodiyan is a subset of podcast, The Pakistan Experience. Nothing we say on Bachodiyan is meant to be taken seriously, it is format created for us friends to say shit, mess around and make fun of each other.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.  Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanex...​ And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1​ https://www.facebook.com/thepakistane...​ https://instagram.com/thepakistanexpe...​ 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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/​ https://twitter.com/shehzad89​ https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Sajeer Shaikh hosts a special cross over episode of The Pakistan Experience, a lot of you have been asking for an episode about who I am, how I got here and what all I have done, this was meant to be that but what ended up happening was a very special conversation on Psychedelics, Friendship and Mental Health.   Sajeer Shaikh and Shehzad Ghias Shaikh explore the universe, their lives, their trauma, their mental health, their love and everything that they have learned.    Thori philosophy, thori bachodiyan - even I am not sure what this episode is - sunay aur aap log bataye ye episode kya thee?  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation.  We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexperience  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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Sajjad Hussain Changezi was a Rotary Peace Fellow at North Carolina University. He is a Hazara Human Rights Activist.   Sajjad comes on the podcast to discuss the recent barbaric killings of Haraza coal mine workers, his hunger strike, Imran Khan's comments and the history of the Hazara community.    The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience  And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1 https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperience https://instagram.com/thepakistanexperience  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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89 https://instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh

Manan Ahmed, Associate Professor, is a historian of South Asia and the littoral western Indian Ocean world from 1000-1800 CE. His areas of specialization include intellectual history in South and Southeast Asia; critical philosophy of history, colonial and anti-colonial thought. He is the author of 'The Loss of Hindustan: The Invention of India' and 'A Book of Conquest'.   Manan comes on The Pakistan Experience to discuss his latest book, 'The Loss of Hindustan', and we get into a deep dive discussion about history and the need for the decolonization process.  How many things we take be natural were actually constructed by Colonization? Till we do not reexamine our own history, we will continue struggling with the identity crises that face us.    On this podcast we discuss, the historical significance of the word 'Hindustan', the process by which Colonizers enslaved us, the Hindutva philosophy, the language debate and 1971.  The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan, and Pakistanis, through the lost art of conversation. We do deep dive long form podcasts to show you the many shades that encapsulate The Pakistan Experience.   Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.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. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tinder.  https://www.facebook.com/Shehzadgs/ https://twitter.com/shehzad89