Talha Ahad Podcast

I sat down with Natalie A. Baker, Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy Pakistan ‬ , for a conversation that covers a lot of ground. Trump's ties with Pakistan's leadership. Mineral wealth. American investment. The historic Islamabad talks. And what it actually means to represent a country through decades of diplomatic postings.

What really makes Islamic banking different from conventional banking? In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, Sheikh Dr. Mufti Muhammad Imran Ashraf Usmani, Chairman of the Shariah Board at Raqami Islamic Digital Bank, explains how Islamic banking works, how Islamic banks generate profit, and what makes a bank “Shariah-Compliant”The conversation covers the origins of Islamic finance, the diffe...

How far could you go if you stopped letting your starting point define your destination? In this episode of Talha Ahad Podcast, Israr Khan, former Oxford Union President, shares the journey that took him from a village school to some of the world’s biggest academic and political spaces. Israr talks about growing up during years of instability in Balochistan, discovering a much bigger world after s...

What happens when you leave banking, become a mother, build a business from scratch, scale it to millions, lose it, and still choose to start again? In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, we sit down with a social entrepreneur, Sayeeda Ashraf, to unpack a career that refused to follow a straight line. From retail and sales psychology to spotting gaps in the UK’s desi food market, bootstrapping...

What does it take to build a destination that lasts for generations instead of just another tourist attraction? In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, Abdullah Khan, Founder of Above Zero and Qubed, with experience at Careem, Zenysis, UNHCR, and GIZ, shares the vision behind Above Zero Thandiani: a mountain town being built around Thandiani's forest, not on top of it, under Pakistan's...

How does a Pakistani student become the President of the Oxford Union? What does it take to lead one of the world's most prestigious debating societies? In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, Moosa Harraj, Former President of the Oxford Union (Term 2025), shares his remarkable journey from Pakistan to Oxford. He reveals the mindset behind his success, what the world's top institutions...

What does it really take to become a chef at the highest level? In this episode, Rameen Omer, Chef and Entrepreneur, gets real about her journey from her grandmother’s kitchen to working under Gordon Ramsay, the pressure of elite professional kitchens, and why becoming a chef is about far more than just knowing how to cook. She breaks down the difference between a cook and a chef, the discipline i...

In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, Shaykh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, Managing Director (Amir) of the Association of British Muslims, shares his remarkable journey to Islam before 9/11 and reflects on how faith, identity, and world events shaped his life. From discovering the Quran as a young student to embracing Islam after seeking certainty, he offers a deeply personal perspective on spir...

What will Pakistan's digital future look like? Will AI create new opportunities or disrupt existing jobs? Can digital payments, fintech, and innovation help build a more inclusive economy? And what will it take for Pakistan to become a truly digital nation by 2030?In this roundtable, experts discuss the biggest opportunities, challenges, and policy decisions shaping Pakistan's digital tran...

In this episode, I sat down with Jawad Majid Khan, an economist and President & CEO at Bank Makramah Limited, for a wide ranging conversation on Pakistan’s biggest structural challenges and the reforms needed to overcome them. From economic growth and taxation to governance, judicial reforms, education, youth, and Pakistan’s changing role in the world, this discussion explores why the country...

Is gender equality in Pakistan a real movement, or just a misunderstood debate? In this episode, Talha Ahad sits down with Jamshed M. Kazi to challenge the biggest narratives around men, women, and power. From “Not All Men” to consent, silence, and social conditioning, this conversation goes straight to the uncomfortable truths. Is this a foreign agenda? Why do men stay silent? And what do women a...

In this episode, Myrah Butt (Policy Engagement Advisor at Oxfam International) shares what students often get wrong about studying abroad from chasing grades to overlooking skills, networks, and real-world exposure. We talk about UK education, career realities, financial decisions, and why adaptability matters more than ever in today’s world. This episode goes beyond degrees, into friendships, exp...

What’s driving Pakistan’s economy and auto industry today? In this episode, the CEO of Toyota Indus Motor Company, Ali Asghar Jamali, explains how rising oil prices, inflation, and the falling rupee are driving up car prices and changing the auto market. From the buzz around electric vehicles to the reality of policies and global competition, this conversation breaks it all down in a simple way. Y...

From a student writing hundreds of letters to British MPs to standing inside the UK Parliament himself, this Pakistani-born British MP shares a remarkable journey on the Talha Ahad Podcast, one shaped by ambition, identity, and destiny. He recalls meeting Benazir Bhutto at just 19, growing up Pakistani in Britain, and navigating power from both sides of the world. The conversation also explores de...

What is really happening behind the Pakistan–Afghanistan conflict? In this episode, Tam Hussein, an award-winning investigative journalist, takes us deep into the hidden world of tribal politics, foreign fighters, and power plays shaping the war. From the rise of militant groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS to the real strategies of regional powers, we uncover the alliances, betrayals, and ambitions tha...

In this special UK Roundtable, Pakistani voices living in the UK unpack identity, belief, and the impact of stepping outside everything you were taught. From religious tolerance and colonial legacies to curriculum, culture shock, and life between Pakistan and London, this episode explores how exposure reshapes who we are. Featuring: • Talha Umer Rajput – President, Pakistan Society CULC • Momina A...

From cooking for Netflix, Soho House, and private international icons to reimagining how Pakistani flavors are experienced abroad, Saliha Khan Sadozai isn’t just serving meals; she’s reshaping narratives. In this conversation, Saliha shares how food became her medium for storytelling, representation, and advocacy. She fights for the people of Kashmir through food, using ingredients, memory, and cu...

In this episode, Badar Yousuf, Chief Financial Officer at National Foods Limited, shares how Pakistani food brands compete on international shelves and what it takes to stand out among global players. He talks about why today’s competition is brand versus brand, and how a clear identity, innovation, and strong taste help brands win. The conversation also looks at how Gen Z is changing food habits...

In this raw, unfiltered episode, Talha sits down with Fahad Malik, Zeeshan Shafqat Malik, and Sheikh Sajawal for a conversation that goes where most podcasts won’t: friendship under pressure, hard work that goes unnoticed, faith in moments of doubt, and the loneliness behind ambition. They debate Gen-Z, social media illusions, ego, integrity, money, growth, and why values matter more when no one i...

When the system isn’t built for you, what does it really take to break in and stay there? In this episode, we sit down with Farzana Baduel, one of the UK’s most respected PR experts, to examine how influence is built when access is never handed to you. Growing up British Pakistani in a hostile Britain and founding a PR firm without elite networks, Farzana reflects on power, exclusion, and the unsp...

In this conversation, Sahibzada Amir Jahangir, a former advisor and decades-long confidant, reflects on a side of Imran Khan that few have truly seen. From private moments in the UK to decisions made under immense power and pressure, the episode reveals how faith, humility, and an uncompromising moral line shaped him long before politics, and why those same traits became inconvenient once he enter...

Are you ready to build a business that actually lasts? In this roundtable episode, leaders from Wafi Energy Pakistan Ltd ( Shell License) share grounded insights on what it truly takes to turn ideas into real impact. From founder mindset to execution, discipline, and long-term thinking, the conversation goes beyond surface-level entrepreneurship talk. This isn’t hype or motivation. It’s a clear, h...

In this episode, Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan, takes us behind the scenes of bringing new electric vehicles (NEVs) to Pakistan. From floods, delays, and tough roads to winning the trust of drivers, he shares the real challenges and surprising successes of introducing something new to the streets. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to change how Pakista...

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 realitie...

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, men...