About Soch: Columbia Pakistan Symposium
Since its inception in 2016, Soch: Columbia Pakistan Symposium has provided a platform for intercultural and political dialogue. In 2017, under the theme of Redefining Attitudes, the conference successfully hosted an array of activists, artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs such as The Citizens Foundation Director Mushtaq Chhapra, former Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and human rights activist Sana Saleem who offered innovative solutions and pertinent insights into the challenges faced by Pakistan today.
Despite Pakistan’s recent advancements in the economic and political sectors, there is one aspect that remains neglected: the state of the country’s health system. The country spends a mere $36.20 per capita on its healthcare infrastructure, although there is much intervention needed to improve the state of a system that is crucial in delivering health services to 197 million individuals. What can Pakistan do to capitalize its existing resources and improve health outcomes for its people? This year, Soch seeks to answer this question, and others, by identifying practical, innovative and actionable policy and development solutions. Thus, we are proud to present our theme for Soch 2019, Health as a Human Right in Pakistan.
OPS promotes Pakistani culture and aims to increase awareness and understanding of Pakistan on the Columbia campus and in the greater New York City area. Throughout the year we organize a number of social, political and cultural events that attract a broad audience. In previous years we have organized a highly successful concert with the Pakistani band Strings and hosted notable Pakistani figures like actor and director Sarmad Khoosat, political activist Jibran Nasir, and the UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi. Building on this success, we launched an annual conference highlighting some of the issues facing Pakistan and the innovative solutions that are being developed by Pakistanis today.
We look forward to welcoming you to Columbia and Soch!
Since its inception in 2016, Soch: Columbia Pakistan Symposium has provided a platform for intercultural and political dialogue. In 2017, under the theme of Redefining Attitudes, the conference successfully hosted an array of activists, artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs such as The Citizens Foundation Director Mushtaq Chhapra, former Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and human rights activist Sana Saleem who offered innovative solutions and pertinent insights into the challenges faced by Pakistan today.
Despite Pakistan’s recent advancements in the economic and political sectors, there is one aspect that remains neglected: the state of the country’s health system. The country spends a mere $36.20 per capita on its healthcare infrastructure, although there is much intervention needed to improve the state of a system that is crucial in delivering health services to 197 million individuals. What can Pakistan do to capitalize its existing resources and improve health outcomes for its people? This year, Soch seeks to answer this question, and others, by identifying practical, innovative and actionable policy and development solutions. Thus, we are proud to present our theme for Soch 2019, Health as a Human Right in Pakistan.
OPS promotes Pakistani culture and aims to increase awareness and understanding of Pakistan on the Columbia campus and in the greater New York City area. Throughout the year we organize a number of social, political and cultural events that attract a broad audience. In previous years we have organized a highly successful concert with the Pakistani band Strings and hosted notable Pakistani figures like actor and director Sarmad Khoosat, political activist Jibran Nasir, and the UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi. Building on this success, we launched an annual conference highlighting some of the issues facing Pakistan and the innovative solutions that are being developed by Pakistanis today.
We look forward to welcoming you to Columbia and Soch!
