Lahore, The Department of Political Science at Punjab University has successfully launched a two-day international hybrid conference titled “Democracy, Governance and Sustainability.” The conference, which opened at Al Raazi Hall on Wednesday, features a lineup of distinguished speakers and explores critical issues in the realms of democratic practices, governance, and the use of modern technology in policymaking.

According to University of the Punjab, the conference was inaugurated by senior journalist Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami and Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shehzad, Vice Chancellor of Minhaj University Lahore. Other notable attendees included Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, Khalid Taimur Akram, and the Chairperson of the Department of Political Science, Prof. Dr. Iram Khalid. The event drew faculty members, researchers, and students, emphasizing the importance of sustainable democratic practices and the role of technology in governance.

During the conference, speakers discussed the evolving landscape of democratic norms not only in Eastern societies but also in Western contexts. Sessions highlighted the integration of technology and artificial intelligence with information management, addressing how these tools can influence contemporary governance and democratic processes.

Dr. Iram Khalid praised Prof. Dr. Rehana Saeed Hashmi and her team for their efforts in organizing the conference, which presented over 90 national and international research papers. Topics covered at the event ranged from sustainable development through artificial intelligence to the role of institutions in preserving democratic institutionalism in both Pakistan and the broader global context.