Thought Behind Things

Welcome back to another episode of Thought Behind Things! After doing the last five episodes in English, we are bringing things back to our usual style of Urdu based on our local audience's feedback. Today, we sit down with one of Pakistan’s top economic minds and journalists, Ali Khizar, to decode the massive geopolitical shifts happening right now. With global analysts warning that the world is...

In this highly anticipated episode, Faisal Aftab returns to the show to break down the rapidly shifting geopolitical and geo-economic landscape. We explore the massive global transition happening between the old military-industrial complex and the rising financial-technology complex. Faisal explains the concept of a new "middle power" emerging between the major empires, potentially aligning countr...

In this episode, we unpack the unprecedented macroeconomic and geopolitical shift following Pakistan’s successful brokering of a ceasefire between the US and Iran. With global markets reacting instantly—Bitcoin surging, US stock futures climbing, and crude oil crashing below $100—Yusuf M. Farooq breaks down exactly what this means for the Pakistani economy and local investors. We analyze the immed...

In this episode, we break down the severe economic implications of the global oil shock and what it means for Pakistan's immediate future. Abdul Rehman Najam joins the show to provide a critical analysis of current macroeconomic indicators, comparing today's crisis to historical events like the 1990 Gulf War. We analyze whether the worst of the demand destruction is already priced into the market,...

Pakistan is officially repaying its $3.5 billion debt to the UAE while the dollar begins its violent search for parity at 350 PKR. We are standing at a critical juncture: an oil shock, a forex shock, and a regional war are colliding simultaneously. Is this a short-term knee-jerk reaction, or are the systemic foundations of our economy finally resetting? In this episode, Laeeq (Founder & CEO of...

Fuel prices in Pakistan have hit a historic high of 400 rupees. While the public is rightfully outraged, the brutal reality is that the state has no buffers, no reserves, and no choice. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. As supply chains for plastics, aluminum, and helium go offline globally, we are entering Phase 1 of a massive economic shift that will redefine the next six months. Are you...

Welcome back to Thought Behind Things. The global supply chain is experiencing a synchronized heart attack. With the Middle East conflict threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, 20% of global oil and 50% of the world's urea are effectively offline. For decades, our survival strategy has been neutrality—but neutrality is a luxury you can only afford in a unipolar world, and that world is dead. I...

Welcome back to the next era of Thought Behind Things. The world is fracturing into a multipolar reality, a global financial reset is looming, and AI is triggering the most violent capital reallocation in human history. The era of the zero-interest-rate tech boom is dead; the AI efficiency purge is here. If we don’t understand the mechanics of these changes, we will be structurally locked out of t...

The global landscape is shifting rapidly with the rise of AI, yet Pakistan’s education system remains stuck in rote memorization. How do we prepare our youth for a post-AI world? In this episode, we sit down with Kamil Majeed, CEO and Principal of Nordic International School, to unpack the flaws in our educational framework. We discuss his experiences transitioning from LUMS to UCL, the stark diff...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we dive deep into the rapidly changing landscape of education and technology in Pakistan. Joined by Dr. Habib Bukhari, former Vice Chancellor of Kohsar University, we explore the impact of AI on the service industry, the importance of "STEM" education, and why the traditional "degree-only" approach is no longer enough for the global market. Whether you’re...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit with Muhammad Danial, the creator who unintentionally turned simple kitchen experiments into one of Pakistan’s most engaging food communities. From growing up as a quiet kid dealing with OCD, to finding confidence through a camera, to balancing the pressure of online fame with the weight of personal identity, Danial shares the untold story behind hi...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit with Ibrahim Shaukat, the founder, who turned Daari Mooch from a small beard-oil experiment into one of Pakistan’s most recognized grooming brands. From building products in a market that didn’t exist, to opening their own salon, to navigating Pakistan’s unpredictable retail landscape, Ibrahim breaks down the real story behind Daari Mooch’s rise. Wh...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we speak with Obaid Arshad, Founder & CEO of Gingko Retail, Pakistan’s biggest ecommerce operating platform and the largest order aggregator in the country. We Explore: Less than 1% of Pakistan’s commerce has moved online How Gingko Retail became Pakistan’s largest ecommerce enabler 214+ merchants using the platform IPO plans for the future Why Pakista...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things , we sit down with a rapidly growing digital creator to unpack his journey from childhood struggles and losing his father at a young age to building a full-time career in online content creation From early exposure abroad to returning home, he explains why social media gave him more earning power than settling for a corporate job — and why algorithm underst...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Shane and Adnan, founders of Software Finder — a global marketplace for buying and selling software, like an OLX for software buyers. With 350+ employees across 4 countries and more than 250,000 targeted monthly visitors, Software Finder has quietly become one of Pakistan’s most successful B2B platforms without hype, foreign celebrity foun...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Ahmed Abubakar, Founder of Imagine Art - a Pakistan-built GenAI creative suite used by millions worldwide and competing for #1–#2 positions in global design app charts, right next to Canva. Today, Imagine does $30M+ ARR, with a major portion of revenue coming from the US and international markets - proving that world-class AI products can...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Umer Munawar, Co-Founder of SmartLane, one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing logistics aggregation platforms. Umer shares how he exited Finja and jumped straight into solving Pakistan’s most chaotic industry - e-commerce logistics. From integrating 31 courier companies, to processing thousands of parcels, to raising $2.3 million, this episode...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Nayab Babar, Chief Investment Officer at the Pakistan Startup Fund, the man shaping how capital flows into Pakistan’s next generation of startups. Nayab shares how Warcraft strategy games trained his problem-solving mindset, how his perspective on racism changed, and why he believes exposure not arguments fixes prejudice. Nayab also explai...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Rayyan, the entrepreneur behind one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing food brands - OD. From a disciplined childhood in madrassah to running his father’s company at a young age, Rayyan’s journey is a mix of family pressure, resilience, and a deep desire to build something of his own. He shares how he transformed a family business, shifted from...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Yasir Suleman Memon, Founder & CEO of Salesflo, one of Pakistan’s biggest enterprise SaaS companies, now used globally across multiple markets. We explore: Why second-tier Pakistani cities never developed How AI is reversing Pakistan’s freelancing boom Why Pakistani founders lack “IPO hunger” Why startups MUST list publicly to retain t...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by the founder of Game Sports Management, one of Pakistan’s few companies trying to turn athletes into real commercial brands. From managing Wasim Akram to building a full sports business, he shares the why Pakistan’s athletes never grow, why our sports ecosystem is broken, and how countries like India turned every sport into a billion-dollar...

CHECK OUT MY AI AVATAR: https://muzamil.alethia.ai/ In this episode, we sit down with Arif Khan, Founder & CEO of ALETHIA AI, the global startup building real-time interactive AI agents, with a major part of the technology being developed in Pakistan. We Explore: Creating AI versions of real people How Muzamil’s own AI avatar was trained Using AI for education, government services, counselling...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Ziyad Parekh, Co-Founder & CEO of Safepay, one of Pakistan’s most exciting fintech startups and a Y-Combinator backed startup. Ziyad shares how he went from Karachi to New York and why he left everything to return home and build Pakistan’s version of Stripe. We uncover how Safepay survived being taken to zero overnight, how they rebuil...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we sit down with Usman Saleem, Co-Founder & CEO of Khazanay, Pakistan’s biggest used sneaker and thrift brand. Usman shares his journey from losing his father at an early age, working graphic design jobs for just ₨8,000 a month, to building one of Pakistan’s most disruptive retail startups. We talk about: How Khazanay sold its first pair of shoes Meeti...

In this episode of Thought Behind Things, we’re joined by Salman Parekh, Founder of Manto, Pakistan’s most distinct fashion brand redefining local identity through design, storytelling, and craftsmanship. From launching limited hand-drawn collections to sustaining a premium yet local brand in a low-growth economy. We explore: How Manto built its own supply chain & scaled sustainably Why Pakist...