Joining us today is Jahanzeb Burana, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Pakistan’s first American-affiliated university launching in 2025. With an MBA from Harvard and a decade of experience in public policy, investments, and education reform, Jahanzeb shares the vision behind building a globally competitive, student-centric university in Pakistan.

In this episode, we dive deep into how traditional universities are failing students, why NIT is offering an entirely new model, and how they’ve partnered with Arizona State University to deliver a modern, globally aligned curriculum. We explore course quality, the 3+1 international transfer program, and how Pakistan can solve its talent redundancy crisis amidst global AI disruption.

This episode answers:

1. Why is Pakistan’s current university system outdated?
2. How will NIT ensure job-ready graduates?
3. What is the future of global education?
4. Can we fix the skill gap in the Pakistani workforce?

Watch till the end to hear about NIT’s collaboration with Arizona State University, student career pathways, and the future of education in Pakistan.

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Joining us today is Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the current Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, with decades of experience leading Pakistan’s education reform. Dr. Mukhtar offers an unfiltered view on the gaps in our current system and what needs to change.

In this episode, we dive deep into why Pakistan’s degrees are becoming irrelevant, how outdated policies are killing innovation, and what steps HEC is taking to fix this broken system. We also explore future plans for AI, local internet infra, EdTech, and what a truly skilled youth could look like by 2050.

This episode answers:

• Why are our degrees not helping us build careers?
• How does HEC plan to bridge the talent gap?
• What’s the future of higher education in Pakistan?
• Is EdTech the answer?

Stay till the end to understand how Pakistan’s education system can evolve and what's holding it back.Don’t forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch more unfiltered conversations like this!

#thoughtbehindthings #muzamilhasan #hecpakistan #pakistanieducation #degrees

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Joining us today is Jonathan Mark Tatti, the Co founder & CEO of Begin Watch, a new Pakistani OTT platform competing with global giants like Netflix and HBO. With over 20 years in the media industry, Jonathan played key roles at Zee TV, CNBC Pakistan, and SAMAA TV, launching some of the region’s most iconic content and channels.

In this episode, we dive into the real story behind Pakistan’s streaming challenges, how Begin Watch was started, the legal and content roadblocks, and how the team plans to build a platform that can rival global players. We also explore sports distribution, E-sports, content licensing, and what it really takes to build a media business in Pakistan today.

This episode answers:

• Why build a streaming platform in Pakistan?
• How does Begin compete with Netflix, HBO & others?
• What’s the biggest challenge in acquiring content rights?
• Can subscription-based platforms survive here?
• What does Pakistan’s future look like?

Stay till the end to hear about Shark Tank Pakistan, Pakistan Idol, and Jonathan’s vision for Pakistan in 2050.

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Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/

Jonathan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mark-t/

Joining us today is Ivana Bajamic, Chief People & Corporate Reputation Officer at National Foods Limited (NFL). She has a global background across adidas, Chalhoub, and BRF, and brings over a decade of experience in talent strategy, organizational culture, and people transformation.

In this episode, we explore Pakistan’s talent pool, what’s working, where the gaps are, and how global standards can be adapted locally. Ivana shares her honest perspective on hiring in Pakistan, building accountability systems, the impact of AI on legacy companies, and why diversity and culture are no longer soft topics.

This episode answers:

• What are the real strengths in Pakistan’s talent pool?
• Why do companies struggle with accountability?
• How can legacy companies adapt to AI?
• What’s needed to prepare agencies for global work?
• Where does Ivana see Pakistan in 2050?

Watch till the end for book recommendations from Ivana.

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Joining us today is Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister in the Government of Punjab and a leader in PMLN, also an associate of Maryam Nawaz. She has a background in economics and environment from King’s College London, and has held major portfolios including Information, Planning & Development, Climate Change, and Education.

In this episode, we unpack the Punjab Budget 2025, what it really means for the average Pakistani, and how the government plans to fix key issues like female education, public transport, water distribution, digitization, and more. 

This episode answers:

• What are the focus areas in Budget 2025?
• How is PMLN approaching reform this time?
• Is Maryam Nawaz focused on education?
• What is being done for water and smog?
• Can digital governance actually work in Pakistan?

Watch till the end for a glimpse into what Pakistan might look like by 2050.

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Joining us today is Abdul Rehman Najam, a value investor and the Founder & CEO of ARN Financial Advisors, where he helps individuals and businesses navigate financial markets. He has a background in Economics from the University of Warwick and deep expertise in wealth management.

In this episode, we dive into why most Pakistanis don’t invest smartly, the myths around getting rich, and what real financial literacy looks like. We also explore the mindset of long-term investing, how to ignore noise in the market, and why emotions are the biggest enemy of smart financial decisions.

This episode answers:

• Why do most people never build wealth despite earning well?
• How can young Pakistanis start investing the right way?
• What are the most common investing mistakes?
• Why is long-term thinking rare in Pakistan?
• How can financial advisors actually add value?

Watch till the end to understand more about Stock Market.

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Abdul Rehman’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbdulRehman0292/

Abdul Rehman’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/abdulrehmannajam

Joining us today is Qumber Hussain, the Founder and CEO of Virtue Xolutions, a growing tech company he has built over the past 10 years. Under his leadership, Virtue Xolutions has expanded from a startup idea into a trusted business working with clients across industries.

In this episode, we explore why many Pakistanis think small, how language barriers hold people back, and what it really takes to build global businesses. We also talk about the power of networking, how to structure a business for global clients, and why AI will reshape marketing and communication in the years ahead.

This episode answers:

• Why do so many Pakistanis struggle to dream big?

• How does poor English block opportunities?

• What stops Pakistanis from building global businesses?

• What do international clients expect that most don’t deliver?

• How is AI already changing the marketing game?

Watch till the end to understand more about Pakistan’s Future.

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Joining us today is Danish Khaliq, a key figure behind HUBCO’s entry into Pakistan’s EV ecosystem, and a former Canadian government policy expert.In this episode, we discuss the true economics of electric vehicles in Pakistan, HUBCO’s partnership with BYD, and why EVs are the future. We explore the broader impact on fuel imports, air quality, and government policy, while breaking down whether Pakistan can localize EVs or even become an exporter in the future.This episode answers:• Are EVs really 3x cheaper than fuel cars?• How much can Pakistan save in fuel import bills?• Is BYD the Tesla of Asia?• Can we build EV infrastructure fast enough?• Will EVs impact Pakistan’s AQI & urban health?Watch till the end to understand more about Pakistan’s EV future.Socials:TBT’s Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings Muzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasanDanish's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danish-khaliq

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Joining us today is Ali Asghar Jamali, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Indus Motor Company Limited (IMC), the official assembler and distributor of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan.

Jamali breaks down Toyota’s localization, the flaws in Pakistan’s automotive policy & what’s really going on in Pakistan’s auto industry. This video answers the following questions:

• What really went wrong in Pakistan’s auto sector
• Is the used car market killing local auto manufacturing?
• The tax burden on the Auto Sector
• Whether electric vehicles are actually viable here
• Are local cars lower in quality than imports?
• Can Pakistan ever manufacture and export its own cars?

Watch till the end to hear Jamali’s vision for Pakistan’s automotive future in 2050.

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Ali's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-a-jamali-4004ba69/

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Guest Introduction:

Joining us today is Shayan Shabir, the Founder and CEO of Strategic Pulse, a company helping businesses grow using AI, cybersecurity, and digital tools. Shayan has over 20 years of experience working across the UK, Australia, and South Asia.Before this, he was the CIO and CSO at Nova Systems, where he led a $35 million digital transformation and built a $7 million cybersecurity program. He has worked in defence, energy, and healthcare, and handled many real cyber attacks in his career.Shayan is certified in CISM, CRISC, and CDPSE, and is focused on helping businesses become faster, safer, and more future-ready.

Do not forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch on to some amazing conversations coming your way!

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Podcast Links:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3z1cE7F

Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/2S84VEd

Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3cgIkf