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An MoU is a beginning. This is the record of what IPDS has built with its partners since 2011: country corners and events with embassies, joint research centres and publications, programmes for young people and women, and the international forums where the Institute has carried Pakistan’s perspective, from Vienna to Beijing.
Vienna, June 2025 Global engagement
IPDS was registered in June 2013 and launched in February 2014, when Prof. Johan Galtung laid its foundation stone. Its founders, Dr. Farhat Asif and Muhammad Asif Noor, had been doing this work since 2009 through The Diplomatic Insight, the magazine they founded, which today sits with IPDS in the Diplomatic Insight Group. That earlier work is the foundation of the Institute and is recorded here as part of IPDS’s history. Initiatives delivered through The Diplomatic Insight or the Diplomatic Insight Group are marked as such, and every entry links to the original report.
Drawn from more than a decade of work with universities, think tanks, diplomatic missions, UN bodies and civil society, these are the practices we bring to every new partnership.
The partnerships that last are the ones with early, visible work. The MoU with the Environment Journalists Forum was signed on 9 December 2024; the first Climate Baithak followed on 18 December.
With Riphah International University we established the Centre for BRI and China Studies; with Inner Mongolia Honder College, that Centre co-founded a fourteen-centre research alliance and published a book together.
Embassies are partners, not audiences. Conferences with the Embassy of Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Embassy, and IYDS briefings hosted by missions, are planned jointly from the start.
In Vienna, Dr. Farhat Asif was one of the few Global South voices among more than 500 participants from 35 countries. We go where the debate is, and contribute to it.
Through The Diplomatic Insight, the IPDS group adds media partnership to dialogue: 14 articles across the Vienna forum cycle, reaching readers in South Asia and beyond.
From the International Young Diplomats School to the Emerging Young Women Leaders Congress and dialogues with 80 universities through IUCPSS, partnerships are a way of opening doors for young people.
Seven partnerships documented in depth, from the United Nations and Turkmenistan to Vienna, country corners, the Young Women Leaders Congress, Riphah International University and GIFT University: context, roles, outputs, results and sources.
In June 2025 IPDS and its sister publication The Diplomatic Insight joined the 4th International Digital Security Forum in Vienna as panellist, exhibitor and official media partner, bringing a South Asian perspective to a largely European debate on digital sovereignty and security.
39 examples of joint work with partners in 12 regions, from Central Asia and the Caucasus to Europe, the Americas, South-East Asia and the United Nations. Filter by region, or see the full list of partner institutions on Our Partners.
Signed in April 2015 for the UN70 campaign: the UN Book Corner, UN Speakers’ Corner, Academic Impact, the UN Wall and UN Days with Pakistani students. Muhammad Asif Noor has been UNAOC Country Chapter Coordinator for Pakistan since 2013, and UN agencies brief every IYDS cohort.
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In March 2016 Dr. Farhat Asif signed two MoUs at the Prime Minister’s House during the state visit of the President of Turkmenistan. Eleven joint initiatives since 2014 include conferences on permanent neutrality, the Urdu translation of Magtymguly and the Magtymguly Corner, a children’s painting competition and MoUs signed during the 2016 state visit. Dr. Farhat Asif received the Magtymguly Jubilee Medal in Ashgabat in 2024.
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Permanent reading corners for Heydar Aliyev, Nizami Ganjavi, Hafiz Shirazi, Camões and the Portuguese language, Ibn Khaldun and Magtymguly, a second Hafez Shirazi corner at AIOU, and a UN Book Corner for students.
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“Timeless Serenity of Calligraphy and Arts”, opened by the ECO Secretary General, with artists from eight ECO member states.
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The Kazakh national poet’s work translated into Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi and Balochi, launched with a Kazakh–Urdu–English phrasebook.
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IPDS published the Urdu edition of Dr. Hoffmann’s book on tolerance, already available in German, Arabic and Polish, and hosted him in Islamabad.
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Gift and Eid ceremonies for children of Pakistan Sweet Homes, Edhi Homes and centres for special children, organised with the Embassy on behalf of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
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A youth society for people-to-people links and cultural exchange, launched with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan as chief guest.
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A book introducing Brazil to Pakistani readers, written by Muhammad Asif Noor and Farhat Asif and launched with the Embassy.
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A joint research centre with ACCWS and the China–Pakistan Think Tank Dialogue 2025; the Centre for BRI and China Studies with Riphah; and a research alliance and joint book on CPEC’s first decade.
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An IPDS delegation and PISM researchers, led by Director Dr. Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, exchanged views on South Asia, EU–Asia cooperation and the strategic landscape.
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MoUs on Central Asia–South Asia research, public diplomacy and civil-society links, and a partnership between the Journal of Peace and Diplomacy and UWED’s International Affairs journal.
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A faculty delegation visited IPDS to plan faculty and student exchange, joint research and joint academic initiatives.
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An institutional research partner in Italy: an interuniversity centre for sustainable development hosted at Sapienza University of Rome.
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Agreements on joint research, publications, exchange visits and joint conferences with an Ankara think tank and an Istanbul university.
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A partnership for research and scientific cooperation between IPDS and the Academy’s institute.
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Two MoUs signed at the Prime Minister’s House, Islamabad, alongside the eight state-level accords of the Pakistan–Turkmenistan summit.
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Among the Institute’s first agreements: exchange of publications and researchers and joint conferences on conflict prevention and international studies.
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Diplomats, policymakers and scholars examined three decades of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality; one of eleven IPDS initiatives with the Embassy since 2014.
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A seminar on progress and prospects in the relationship, convened by the IPDS Centre for Central Asia and Eurasian Studies.
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Missions receive IYDS cohorts for country briefings; the 4th School, for example, opened at the Embassy of Romania, hosted by the Ambassador.
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Roundtables and a seminar on Kazakhstan’s Security Council term and chairmanship, and on 25 years of Pakistan–Kazakhstan relations.
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A roundtable on learning and earning between Pakistan and the Nordic countries, with members of the Pakistani–Scandinavian community.
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Two seminars, in December 2011 and April 2012, including a lecture by the Ambassador of Romania.
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A dialogue at the 6th International Students Convention and Expo with the Ambassador of Thailand and the High Commissioner of Mauritius, hosted by Dr. Farhat Asif.
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Digital, e-commerce, craft and business skills for young women in rural South Punjab, completed with a certificate ceremony in Multan.
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Agreements on research, capacity building and women’s peace and leadership studies.
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Hosted and moderated by Dr. Farhat Asif, with women peacebuilders from Albania, Libya, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Kenya, Canada and Ukraine.
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Three editions pairing young women with mentors from diplomacy, politics and public life.
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An MoU to involve students in UN communication initiatives (the UN Book Corner, UN Wall, Academic Impact, internships and UN Days), followed by a UN Speakers’ Corner with heads of UN agencies.
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An MoU signed on 9 December 2024 was followed nine days later by the first Climate Baithak: workshops and dialogues on climate reporting.
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An agreement on joint research, training, publications and advocacy on the 2030 Agenda.
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An MoU signed in January 2020, followed by the joint Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy and International Relations, the Centre for BRI and China Studies and a series of seminars with embassies.
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An MoU to connect Pakistan’s women entrepreneurs with regional and global networks; the Chamber named Dr. Farhat Asif its Goodwill Ambassador.
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Marking the UN Day for South-South Cooperation, with speakers from COMSATS, UNIDO, UNDP, the EU Delegation and the diplomatic corps.
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A council to connect Pakistani businesses with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation region, launched with ambassadors and diplomats from nine countries.
Read more →IPDS hosted the Islamabad hub of a distributed summit run from Dubai, with sessions joining from China, Vienna and Nairobi on new economic corridors.
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A free virtual conference with energy specialists from Europe, the Gulf, the United States, Hong Kong, Indonesia and South Africa.
Read more →Panellist, exhibitor and official media partner at Europe’s forum on digital sovereignty and security.
See below →With embassies and Pakistan’s national libraries and universities, IPDS has opened reading corners dedicated to the writers and leaders of partner countries. Each is a permanent home for books, a place for students and a reason for the embassy and the host institution to keep working together.
Since 2011, IPDS has organised 85 conferences, seminars, exhibitions, cultural evenings, book launches and publications with embassies and partners, most of them in Islamabad. Embassies are partners in these events from the start, not guests. The record runs from the newest; each entry links to the original report or photo album.
IPDS sets the agenda; The Diplomatic Insight carries it to readers. Founded by the same leadership in 2009, the magazine is IPDS’s media partner within the Diplomatic Insight Group, and the partnerships below, with international forums, news agencies, embassies, universities and think tanks, extend the Institute’s public diplomacy to audiences in Pakistan and abroad.
Read The Diplomatic Insight and follow its coverage of IPDS and Pakistan’s diplomatic community.
thediplomaticinsight.comXDiploTVOfficial media partner of the Trade, Export and Innovation Forum, 30–31 October, Baku Congress Center.
Official media partner of the expo, 15–17 May 2026.
Media partner of the international agribusiness summit, 19–21 November 2025.
Official media partner; 14 articles across the forum cycle.
Cooperation agreement to exchange news between Serbia and Pakistan.
Diplomatic Insight Group became a certified partner in Xinhua’s Global South Media and Think Tank Joint Communication Partnership Program.
MoU between Global News Pakistan and Mideast Discourse on media cooperation.
MoU between Global News Pakistan and the Iraqi News Agency on media cooperation.
Diplomatic Insight Group’s annual awards recognise ambassadors, diplomats and partners for their contribution to relations with Pakistan; the 8th edition was held in 2026.
Agreement to deepen economic and public diplomacy between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
The Diplomatic Insight’s special edition on 30 years of Turkmenistan’s independence was presented at the Ministry’s Institute of International Relations in Ashgabat.
Special supplements on Russia, the UAE, Turkmenistan, China, Portugal Day, the UN at 70 and 75, and the SCO; books on 20 years of relations with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and Knowing Brazil in Urdu.
IPDS and The Diplomatic Insight met the Center’s analysts to deepen institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
University-wide MoU on education, diplomacy, trade and innovation, with the Gujranwala Business Alliance.
MoU between the Journal of Peace and Diplomacy and UWED’s International Affairs journal on joint research and editorial practice.
Seminars on higher-education cooperation between Pakistan and other countries, at the HEC and the National Library.
Where Dr. Farhat Asif, Founder and President, and Muhammad Asif Noor, Co-founder and Executive Director, have represented IPDS and Pakistan: as speakers, panellists, delegates and partners. Each entry links to the published report.
Speaker; The Diplomatic Insight is the forum’s official media partner.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceMember of Pakistan’s delegation; met Rwanda’s Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, the Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda’s High Commission in Pakistan.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourcePanellist, “Shanghai Spirit: Commitment to Common Values and Ideals”; signed an MoU with the World Peoples Assembly on the sidelines.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceSpeaker on advancing global economic governance for win-win cooperation.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourcePanellist, “The Great Figures of Islamic Civilization Reimagined: How to Engage the 21st-Century Audience”.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceMentor to two emerging women leaders in foreign policy.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceParticipant, with media and think-tank professionals from across the SCO region.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker, “Development as a Pillar of Human Rights: Global South Perspectives on Inclusive Governance”.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceRepresented Pakistan among ten people-to-people friendship institutions from SCO countries.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceRepresented Pakistan at the international women’s forum of the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy and the Senate of Uzbekistan.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceParticipant, as Secretary General of the Pakistan–SCO Friendship Forum, among delegates from more than 150 countries.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceLed talks with faculty on practical agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker, representing Pakistan in the Global Smart Tour exchange programme.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant in the flagship exchange, on entrepreneurship and small-business development.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceCalled for a people-centred digital vision for the SCO in a session on cross-border digital connectivity.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceRepresented IPDS among delegates from more than 140 countries and regions.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceRepresented Pakistan’s civil society.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceKeynote speaker on agricultural cooperation under CPEC.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceConsultant to the CAREC Secretariat for business outreach and private-sector engagement.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceMeeting with Burhan Kayatürk MP, Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs, on a new cooperation initiative.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceDialogue with PISM researchers on South Asia, EU–Asia cooperation and the strategic landscape.
IPDS delegationSourceLaunch of a School for Diplomacy and Leadership with Italian and Turkish partners.
IPDS delegationSourcePanellist, exhibitor and media partner; see the account above.
Dr. Farhat Asif and Muhammad Asif NoorRead the account aboveSpeaker on Asia’s civilisational heritage as a foundation for diplomacy, and on digital diplomacy.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceMember of the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s delegation, representing Pakistan’s business community.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceRepresented Pakistan.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker on the media’s role in heritage conservation.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant in the congress on Uzbekistan’s public diplomacy: past, present and future.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant among more than 200 media outlets from 75 countries.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant, with civil-society partners from many countries.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker on China–Pakistan cooperation in e-commerce.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSigned an MoU between the IPDS Centre for BRI and China Studies and the Centre for CPEC at Kashi University.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSigned the agreement establishing the Pakistan–Kyrgyzstan Trade House, for the Global Business Alliance.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker, as head of the Pakistani business delegation.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourcePaper “Women in International Relations: A Perspective from Pakistan”, co-authored by Dr. Farhat Asif.
IPDS delegationSourceRepresented Pakistan, as Chairperson of the Pakistan–SCO Friendship Forum; the forum adopted the Tashkent Communiqué.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourcePresented the book on Pakistan–Azerbaijan relations to the Deputy Foreign Minister.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceInvited speaker on Pakistan–China cultural links.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceMember of the delegation led by the Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs; meetings at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National People’s Congress.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant, with the parliamentary delegation.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceSpeaker, among speakers from ten countries.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceThe IPDS Centre for BRI and CPEC Studies convened a session on business and investment opportunities in Pakistan.
IPDS delegationSourceParticipant, with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and SCO officials.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceRepresented Pakistan.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceLed a Pakistan–SCO Friendship Forum delegation; met Uzbekistan’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Tajikistan’s investment committee.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant, with the heads of UNESCO and the EU in the region.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceLectures on Azerbaijan–Pakistan relations: the way forward.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceParticipant.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceLectures to journalism and mass-communication students on social media: change, challenges and opportunities.
Muhammad Asif NoorSourceMeetings with Pakistan’s Ambassador, a conference, discussions and cultural evenings, followed by a tour on 20–25 October 2012 (The Diplomatic Insight delegation).
IPDS delegationSourceWith a delegation of Pakistani women leaders (Amn-O-Nisa), met US policymakers and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on civil society’s role in ending violent extremism; visited UN Headquarters.
Dr. Farhat AsifSourceMuhammad Asif Noor · National Book Foundation, Government of Pakistan
Muhammad Asif Noor · Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association
Muhammad Asif Noor · Embassy of Azerbaijan with the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs (2021); Ambassador of Kazakhstan (2026)
Muhammad Asif Noor · United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
Dr. Farhat Asif · Government of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat
Dr. Farhat Asif · International Women’s Forum
Dr. Farhat Asif and Muhammad Asif Noor · SCO Center for Public Diplomacy, Uzbekistan
Muhammad Asif Noor · 7th CPEC Media Forum, Islamabad
Dr. Farhat Asif · Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lahore Division
Universities, think tanks, diplomatic missions, international organisations and forums: if you would like to co-convene a dialogue, publish jointly, host young diplomats or bring a Pakistani perspective to your programme, we would be glad to hear from you.
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