Cultivating Curiosity – Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, PACC came alive with a celebration of learning, ideas, creativity and curiosity as the Fourth Learning Festival 2026 unfolded from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The festival was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the presence of Mr. Syed Makhdoom Ali Riaz, President – PACC; Mr. Syed Nusrat Ali, Chairperson – ELP, PACC; members of the Governing Board, faculty, staff and guests. The distinguished Chief Guest, Ms. Ameena Saiyid OBE, SI, MD Lightstone Publishers, delivered a thought-provoking address on learning and knowledge.

It was particularly befitting to have Ms. Saiyid as Chief Guest, given her pioneering role in establishing literature festivals in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad nearly 18 years ago. Her presence beautifully connected the festival’s spirit of learning and ideas with a remarkable chapter in Pakistan’s literary and cultural journey.

At the heart of the festival were 60+ interactive workshops, spanning an extraordinary range of subjects — from gardening, calligraphy, poetry and Urdu to health and nutrition, Islamic baking for Gen Z, ECE, inclusive classrooms, classroom management, content creation and AI, including the intriguing question: “AI — Friend or Foe?”

The festival’s deeper intention was to transform academic educators into leaders — encouraging them to move beyond teaching content and become thinkers, innovators, facilitators and agents of change.

The programme featured inspiring names including Abbas Husain, Sabina Khatri, Tasneem Salim and Minhas Tejani, along with valuable participation from Meezan Bank and other contributors who brought diverse expertise and perspectives to the festival.

The inaugural ceremony also honoured PACC jubilarians — teachers and staff — celebrating their years of dedication. An imaginative ELP Lyceum dialogue revisited in 2026 through an AI reel, beautifully created by an ELP teacher, brought the past into conversation with the future.

Around 19 food, educational toy and games vendors added colour and energy to the festival, with women entrepreneurs actively encouraged to showcase their ventures.

The Vision Behind It All

The Learning Festival was the brainchild of Mrs. Merzieh Sheerazi Shah, Senior Manager – ELP, PACC, who initiated, nurtured and worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.

Having given 36 years of her life to PACC, the Learning Festival is, in many ways, her way of giving back to an institution that has been such an important part of her journey.

What began as an idea has now grown into its fourth and biggest installment yet — a vibrant PACC tradition that brings people together through learning, creativity and curiosity.

In recognition of her contribution, Mrs. Merzieh Sheerazi Shah was honoured by PACC — a heartfelt acknowledgement of the vision and dedication behind the festival.

And then came the finale!

The festival ended quite literally with a bang — an exhilarating drum therapy session where participants released stress, surrendered to rhythm and filled the room with electrifying energy. After a full day of learning and thought, everyone simply let go.

From AI to Urdu, gardening to nutrition, inclusive education to entrepreneurship, literature to rhythm, the Fourth Learning Festival proved that curiosity has no boundaries.

It was vibrant.
It was thought-provoking.
It was energetic.
It was wonderfully alive.

Most importantly, it reminded us that learning is not merely about acquiring knowledge — it is about cultivating the curiosity to keep seeking it.

Cultivating Curiosity – Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow.
PACC’s Fourth Learning Festival 2026 — where learning came alive.