Karachi, April 14, 2025: In an ambitious effort to cultivate psychoanalytic thinking in Pakistan, the Aga Khan University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) has partnered with the Department of Psychology at the University of Exeter to host an international conference titled “Journeying Beyond the West: Can Psychoanalysis Find New Roots in Pakistan?” at AKU’s Stadium Road campus in Karachi.
Understanding Psychoanalysis and Its Relevance
Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that not only provides relief from mental health issues but also helps individuals gain deeper self-awareness and make better life choices. While Pakistan has no formal history of psychoanalysis, practitioners and theorists with a keen interest in the field exist across the country. The three-day conference aims to unite clinicians, scholars, and artists to create an inclusive space for further inquiry and practice of psychoanalysis.
Breaking Cultural and Geographical Boundaries
“Psychoanalysis is often assumed to belong solely to the West, but its emphasis on speech, subjectivity, and the unconscious knows no borders,” said Dr. Duane Rousselle, Associate Dean of Research and Associate Professor at FAS, and lead organizer of the conference. “Psychoanalysis is an urban city phenomenon, and Karachi is an urban megacity.”
Distinguished Speakers and Key Discussions
The conference featured prominent local thinkers and practitioners, as well as members of the British Psychoanalytic Association and the New Lacanian School. Their discussions focused on:
- Identifying traces of psychoanalytic thought in Pakistan.
- Exploring clinical and theoretical ideas relevant to Pakistan and its diaspora.
- The potential for establishing psychoanalytic training programs in the country.
Participants were encouraged to contribute to shaping the future of psychoanalysis in Pakistan.
Fostering Intellectual Discourse in Pakistan
“The event responds to a growing but unmet demand for serious intellectual forums on psychoanalysis in Pakistan, particularly in urban centres like Karachi,” said Dr. Stephen Lyon, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “It also reflects FAS’s commitment to making space for new conversations within the liberal arts in Pakistan. We’re proud to be part of this pioneering effort.”