Talha Ahad Podcast

Are liberal arts the future? Is the Pakistani education system conducive to artists? Join us this week as we sit down with Zaeem Yaqoob Khan, Executive Director of Student Affairs and External Relations at Beaconhouse National University, to discuss education in the 21st century, the real meaning of liberal arts, and where this degree can take you. We also talk about the university system in Pakis...

Is the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa backed by the establishment? Who is really in power? In this week's episode, we sit down with Aimal Wali Khan, Central President of the Awami National Party, to discuss the lack of structure in policymaking and state institutions. Aimal Wali also makes some interesting revelations about independence, Imran Khan, and the future of the country. Search...

Does Parliament follow any decorum? How are bills passed? What is it like being a young parliamentarian? This week, our guest is Mubeen Arif Jutt, PTI's youngest parliamentarian. He joins us to discuss political and parliamentary affairs, the future of PTI, and the events of May 9th and their aftermath. Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your...

Is Imran Khan's leadership style similar to Hitler's? Is the Establishment the cause of Pakistan's downfall? Which party was responsible for the assassination attempt on Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza? Join us as we sit down with Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza to discuss the true meaning of 'taghoot' and find answers to questions regarding women's rights in Islam. Search ‘Talha A...

Can a good CEO also be a good leader? What is the cost of pursuing dreams? In this week's episode, Yousaf Humayun Eashai, CEO of Touchstone Communications, joins us to explore these questions through his journey to the pinnacle of his career. He shares personal anecdotes and insights tailored for Gen-Z, discussing the evolving workplace dynamics and the essential keys to corporate success. You...

Is the class system prevalent in the public sector? Is our education system preparing the youth for the future? Our guest this week, Umer Riaz from the Police Services of Pakistan, joins us to give his two cents on these topics. We also discuss the policy crisis in Pakistan and the distortion of history. Umer also shares what he believes the future of Pakistan will look like over the next decade....

Did Pakistan have a role in the fall of Kabul? Is the TTP backed by the Afghan Taliban? Does America hold Pakistan accountable for its loss in Afghanistan? Our guest this week, Salman Javed, a Pak-Afghan affairs expert, joins us to answer all these questions and more. We discuss the decades leading up to the 2021 fall of Kabul and how it has impacted Pakistan. We also explore the future of Pak-Afg...

Has bureaucracy become irrelevant? Is there no redemption for Pakistan's civil services? Our guest this week, Tariq Mehmood Awan, a seasoned civil servant, joins us to discuss the highs and lows in the history of Pakistan's civil services. We discuss the political influence and other factors that have been rusting this state machinery and whether or not it can be recovered. Mr. Tariq also...

How critical is the role of PR? Do governments also need agencies to manage public relations, and how do political parties form narratives using PR? Our guest this week, Aneel Butt, a seasoned PR professional with over 10 years of experience working with various big names in the corporate world, joins us to discuss all of this and much more. We discuss the PR and advertising industry of Pakistan,...

This week's episode is about finding yourself amongst the chaos of the world around you. We are joined by Shehnaz Minallah happiness teacher at Soul Sanctuary and Mir Nasir, a serial tech entrepreneur and CEO of xLoop. We talk about dealing with grief, coming to terms with loss, and finding happiness in your soul. We also talk about meditation, wellness, and the importance of taking care of yo...

Are emerging markets supportive of new businesses? Does Gen-Z find accounting interesting? Our guest this week, Lucia Real-Martin, sits with us to discuss the evolution of accounting as a profession, and how ACCA involves Gen-Z in its planning process. We also discuss gender diversity, talent retention, and understanding the needs of developing countries, as well as the complexities of working in...

What is the future of bureaucracy in Pakistan? Was the past better than the future? We are joined by former secretary Tariq Mahmood this week for a conversation on the golden days of Pakistani bureaucracy and the events leading up to the fall of Dhaka. We discuss the unwarranted involvement of the establishment, the recent elections, and the future of democracy in Pakistan. We also discuss policym...

In this week's episode, we sat down with our guest, Umer Ghumman, Director and Country Head of Samsung Mobiles Pakistan to discuss the evolution of corporate culture and the different practices that set apart the Gen-Z workforce from the Millennial workforce. Additionally, we talk about the importance of corporate leadership and team building and how to make your mark in the tech industry. Uma...

"What can Pakistan do?" A question many have been asking, and one man tried to answer. In this week's episode, we sat down with Asad Umer, Pakistan's former finance minister, to discuss whether there's hope for Pakistan. We talk about the opportunities to improve diplomatic relations, solve public policy-related issues, and steps to stabilise the economy. Additionally, we dis...

Will Pakistan's economy ever revive? Are we witnessing political stability anytime soon, and is a new party what our system needs right now? Miftah Ismail, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar sit down with Talha Ahad for an exclusive conversation to answer some interesting questions. We also discuss their vision for Pakistan, developments in the Middle East, and Pakistan's dipl...

Is the Illuminati truly behind everything? Is 'Islami Nizam' the real solution to all our problems? This week, we sat down with Asad Ullah from the Eon Podcast, to answer these and many more questions that often stir the curiosity of Pakistanis. We talk about the dirty politics in Pakistan, the downfall of our society, and the manipulation of religion. Asad Ullah also shares some insights...

This week, we sat down with Pakistan's leading cosmetic, plastic, and hair transplant surgeon, Dr. Muhammad Salman Khan, aka MSK, for a conversation on the growing trend of cosmetic surgery in Pakistan and globally. We discuss the latest trends in the field of plastics and cosmetics and technological advancements. Dr. Salman shares with us his motivations, challenges, and what keeps him going...

With Ramadan ending and Eid drawing closer, Pakistanis living abroad are turning to banks to send money to their loved ones. In this week's episode, we sit down with Naqqash Hafiz, Executive Head of ACE Money Transfer Services, to answer all your remittance-related queries. We discuss the need for a trusted financial service provider, the process behind it, and how ACE Money Transfer, in partn...

In this week's episode, we have Sofyan Yusufi, a partner at Deloitte and Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council, joining us for a discussion on the global image of Pakistan and how the West, especially America, views us. We also discuss the prevailing class system, discrimination, and social hierarchies in Pakistan. Sofyan also shares some harrowing stories from his days in America as a Muslim...

In this week's episode, we have Muhammad Ammar Hassan Yousufi, former CMO of Daraz and OLX, joining us. We discuss the corporate culture in Pakistan, its flaws, strengths, and evolution over the years, and how Gen-Z fits into it. He discusses approaches that can help build a better work environment for the younger generation. Towards the end, Ammar also touches upon the subject of Pakistani st...

Over recent years, Pakistan has seen a rise in irregular migrations, especially towards Europe. In this week's episode, Faisal Shabir, Technical Advisor for Counselling & Cooperation at GIZ, talks to us about the growing trend of irregular migrations and its potential threats. We try to uncover the reasons that force people to take this perilous route. Faisal also provides insights on assi...

In this episode, we have Shayan Mahmud, the CEO and founder of ProPakistani, joining us. We explore Shayan's journey, from his experiences in the UK and China to how they've influenced his life. We also compare the content creation industries of Karachi and Islamabad and touch upon topics like success, learning from failures, and the role of luck in seizing opportunities and discovering on...

Is Pakistan an ideal country to launch a business? Will corruption and mismanagement be the reasons for our downfall? Our guest this week, Pakistani-American businessman and philanthropist Tanweer Ahmed, sat down for a conversation to discuss Pakistan's business ecosystem and scope for entrepreneurship. He also discusses the stark differences between the Pakistani and Indian diasporas and thei...

TCM's Talha Ahad sat down with the leading ladies at Lipton Pakistan for a discussion on women's empowerment and to gauge their perspective on being a woman and leader in the corporate world. We also discuss the ever-evolving landscape and the opportunities for Gen-Z and some tips on how they can make the best use of resources available to them. The guests include Farheen Salman, President...

For this Women's Day, we sat down with Rifah Qadri, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication at Easypaisa, to discuss women's empowerment through financial inclusion and the need for financial independence. We also talked about women in corporate roles and how they can drive companies to reach new heights of success. Rifah also shared some insights to help younger women who are just s...