Pakistan’s energy sector sits at the intersection of policy, infrastructure, and long-term planning.
In this episode, I sat down with the CEO of PARCO Gunvor Limited to understand how Pakistan’s oil and energy ecosystem actually functions, from refining capacity and supply chains to the structural challenges that impact energy security and economic stability.
This conversation focuses on realities rather than rhetoric, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and what needs sustained attention if Pakistan is to build a more resilient energy future.
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What are we getting wrong in education today?
In this roundtable, Talha Ahad is joined by Ms. Kaneez Zehra (Executive Director, SAQE), Urwa Naeem (Senior Program Officer, SAQE), and Ms. Gulmina Bilal (Chairperson, NAVTTC) to unpack how rote learning, digital misinformation, and outdated systems are producing workers instead of thinkers.
The discussion explores social media, AI, media literacy, mentorship, and skills-based education. As Pakistan’s youth remain our greatest asset, the question remains: are we preparing them to think, or just to work?
SAQE is a not-for-profit committed to evidence-based policy advocacy efforts to institutionalize free and compulsory education. Through its flagship network, the Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE), SAQE has been actively engaging grassroots communities on critical education issues since 2005, with an outreach that spans 65 districts and over 1500 Union Councils.
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What does it take to succeed when the odds are stacked against you? Zishan Nurmohamed shares his remarkable journey from a council estate in North London to becoming a partner at EY (Ernst & Young). He opens up about childhood struggles, racism, cultural bias, and the enduring influence of his mother.
Packed with powerful lessons on resilience, perseverance, and determination, this episode is an inspiring story for anyone striving to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
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What does childhood look like in Pakistan today? In this roundtable, I sit down with Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Pakistan’s Country Representative, along with children from the NCRC Child Advisory Panel, Baryal and Sania, to explore what children really need in today’s world.
We examine how parental support, emotional care, and education shape a child’s growth, and ask: Are we truly listening to what our children are trying to tell us?
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The world is changing, social media, AI, and Gen Alpha are redefining learning. But are our madrasas ready? In this episode, our guest explores how centuries-old Islamic education systems face a new challenge: balancing tradition with technology, and authority with empathy.
Can faith education adapt without losing its essence? Watch to discover what’s possible.
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What really happens behind the closed doors of modern intelligence?
In this rare and powerful conversation, we sit down with Sir David Omand GCB, British former senior civil servant & former Director of the GCHQ, to unravel the world most people only know through headlines, fiction, or rumours.
From counter-terrorism missions and tracking Osama Bin Laden to preventing attacks planned across borders, this episode explores how intelligence agencies operate, where their power comes from, and how far they should go, and how far they should go.
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When Pakistan’s mobility sector was collapsing, Swvl was exiting, Careem was shifting focus, and funding was drying up, one woman quietly decided she wasn’t done solving the problem. What started as a single bus run on her maxed-out credit cards grew into one of the country’s most resilient mobility solutions.
In this candid and powerful conversation, Maha Shahzad shares what kept her going through doubt, shutdowns, and a system that told her to quit.
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Why does child abuse continue to go unpunished in Pakistan? Humaira explains how, in South Asia, traditions often overpower Islamic reforms, influencing women’s lives, family structures, and even the justice system. Violence, child abuse, polygamy, media exploitation, and misinterpreted faith hide in society’s shadows.
She urges young women to embrace their identities, stay self-aware, and let justice guide them. But when culture shields crime and misused religion justifies harm…
Can justice ever survive?
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In this episode of The UK Chapter, we sit down with Shahzad Younas, the man who left a fast-rising career at Morgan Stanley to fix a broken system of Muslim matchmaking and build Muzz_app, one of the world’s leading Muslim marriage platforms.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
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In this episode, I sat down with the Founder and Trustee of British-Pakistan Foundation, Asif Rangoonwala, a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and British Pakistani, to explore his journey of faith, hard work, and resilience.
Asif reflects on his early struggles, the importance of humility, and the lessons he learned from building businesses like Eurobuns while giving back through the Rangoonwala Foundation.
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Dr. Naeemi, an esteemed Islamic scholar and current Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), and Mr. Rasul, a prominent religious scholar and Chairman of Idara Fikr-e-Jadeed, Lahore, explore how faith, culture, and intellect shape morality, including sensitive topics like sex education.
From Sufi influence to modern education, they discuss why Islam looks different across regions, how sexual health can be taught responsibly, and why guidance, morality, and intellect must work together.
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Amir Anzur sits down with Talha Ahad to share his journey, vision, and insights on building Pakistan’s global presence in tech.
From his experiences working with the Dubai government, where he learned the power of confident women leaders, entrepreneurial government culture, and a global outlook, to his role as CMO of Pakistan Software Export Board.
Amir explains how Pakistan can scale its IT exports, promote thought leadership, and become a hub for innovation.
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Exiled leaders, banned tycoons, jailed politicians, secret influence from London, fractured alliances, and silent power play. Pakistan’s politics is shaped as much abroad as at home.From Altaf Hussain’s decline, Malik Riaz’s UK ban, and Imran Khan’s shifting influence, to British courts, hidden networks, media weaknesses, and the political figures who quietly direct 2025, Murtaza Ali Shah breaks down the stories that never reach TV screens.If this is what we see… what’s still hidden? Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.
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What’s the real cost of chasing fame in Pakistan’s entertainment industry?
Ainy Jaffri opens up about the unspoken realities of being an actor: the favoritism, the power lobbies, and the unregulated chaos of an industry where everyone’s replaceable.
From Pakistan’s struggle to reach Netflix quality to why the West prefers Indian faces, she unpacks what truly shapes success, and what it costs.
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When even experts from the World Bank and Oxford University are surprised by what Pakistan has already achieved in fintech, you know the script is changing.In this conversation, Noman Azhar, Chief Officer at Zindigi by JS Bank, breaks down how Pakistan quietly built one of the most advanced digital banking ecosystems in the region years before it became a buzzword elsewhere. From pioneering branchless banking 17 years ago to leading the next phase of fintech innovation, Pakistan isn’t catching up; it’s setting the benchmarks.Watch the full conversation to understand why the world is finally taking notes from us.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #nomanazhar #jsbank #zindigi
Is Punjab's crippling smog crisis an unbeatable problem, or is there a new high-tech strategy that could finally clear the air?
In this critical episode, Talha Ahad sits down with Silwat Saeed, the Secretary of the Environment Protection & Climate Change Department (EP&CCD), Government of Punjab. As the driving force behind Punjab's new data-led approach, Secretary Saeed reveals the inside story of the province's most ambitious environmental battle yet.
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In this episode, I sat down with Shahzad Akbar, former advisor to Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex–Deputy Prosecutor of NAB.
We discussed Pakistan’s political future, his years working closely with Imran Khan, and the question everyone keeps asking: Will Imran Khan ever be free again?
A candid conversation about power, accountability, and what really happens behind closed doors in Pakistan’s politics.
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From political instability and digital neglect to short-term thinking and corporate complacency, Pakistan’s challenges run deep. In a rare and insightful conversation, Asad Umar, Ather Imran Nawaz, and Syed Ahmad break down why our institutions underperform, why the corporate sector failed to innovate, and how the IT industry lost decades of potential.
Yet, amid the criticism lies hope, a belief that with the right mindset, long-term vision, and investment in people and technology, Pakistan can still rewrite its digital destiny.
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As thousands move abroad for stability, Aqib Hassan, Chief Commercial Officer at Homes By One, chose to create opportunities in Pakistan. In this powerful conversation with Talha Ahad, he talks about belief when no one else believes, the courage to start from zero, and why he believes Pakistan’s future depends on those willing to fight for change.
Through One Homes, Aqib is leading an effort to reconnect overseas Pakistanis with their homeland, to keep the bond alive through identity and belonging, not just business.
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From daily commutes to everyday independence, Yango isn’t just about rides; it’s about rethinking how people move, live, and connect.
In this episode, Miral Sharif, Country Head of Yango Pakistan, sits down with Talha Ahad to unpack what it means to build technology that truly serves people, especially women finding freedom in their everyday choices.
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