infrastructure - The Latremie Post

Karachi Biennale 2027: Noor Ahmed to curate fifth edition

The Karachi Biennale is set to return in January 2027 for its fifth edition, this time led by curator Noor Ahmed. Since its launch in 2017, the Karachi Biennale has grown into Pakistan’s largest international contemporary art event, transforming the city through exhibitions, public art projects, and education programmes that bring contemporary art to diverse audiences.

For KB27, the Biennale will once again move beyond traditional gallery walls, spreading across Karachi’s schools, parks, and public spaces. The programme will feature commissioned works, site-specific projects, artist residencies, workshops, initiatives for schools and communities, and a series of public talks. The Trust aims to explore new ways of engaging audiences and to document the outcomes for future editions.

Noor Ahmed is an exciting choice as curator. She has collaborated on significant projects, including co-curating *River Landscapes*, a transnational initiative connecting South Asia and Europe through a shared glossary of water. Additionally, she served as Project Director and Lead Curator of the Digital Curation of Lahore and Taxila Museums, Pakistan’s largest museum digitisation programme.

Her relationship with the Biennale dates back to 2019, when she served as Assistant Curator for KB19 and helped deliver exhibitions across Karachi’s public parks, zoo, and botanical gardens.

The Biennale has always sought to expand access to contemporary art, with each edition advancing this mission. Previously curated by Amin Gulgee in 2017, Muhammad Zeeshan in 2019, Faisal Anwar in 2022, and Waheeda Baloch in 2024, the event has steadily strengthened its infrastructure for commissions, exhibition delivery, and education, while deepening public participation across the city.

With Noor Ahmed guiding KB27, the Biennale is poised to continue this growth. The programme will introduce new voices, test fresh formats, and reaffirm Karachi’s role as a hub of contemporary cultural exchange.

Details of the full programme, along with submission deadlines and ticketing information, will be released by the Trust ahead of the January 2027 opening. Stay tuned for updates!
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1348546-karachi-biennale-2027-noor-ahmed-to-curate-fifth-edition

A CivicSpace Conversation on Rural-Urban Powerbuilding

**CivicSpace Virtual Roundtable: Bridging Rural and Urban Communities**

CivicSpace, a New America Chicago initiative, presents a virtual roundtable focused on finding common ground and powerbuilding across rural and urban spaces. This discussion will explore how rural and urban communities can better understand one another and work together to address shared civic challenges.

The roundtable will feature a moderated dialogue, followed by an opportunity for questions from the audience. While rural and urban communities are often viewed as culturally and politically opposed, many face parallel struggles such as underinvestment in public infrastructure, unequal access to public services, weakened democratic institutions, and exclusion from policy processes.

Despite these shared challenges, there are few spaces where rural and urban leaders can come together to explore common ground, exchange experiences, and uncover shared priorities. This roundtable aims to fill that gap and foster meaningful connections.

**Speakers:**

– **Daniel Ash**, Executive Director of the Field Foundation
– **Loka Ashwood**, Sociologist and MacArthur Fellow
– **Catherine Coleman Flowers**, Founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice (CREEJ) and MacArthur Fellow

Join us for this important conversation and be part of building stronger, more connected communities.
https://www.newamerica.org/chicago/events/a-civicspace-conversation-on-rural-urban-powerbuilding/

Any aggression in Sir Creek will be met with historic response: Rajnath Singh

Highlighting the Indian Army’s achievements, the defence minister stated that the objectives of Operation Sindoor had been successfully met. He emphasized that the aim was not to escalate tensions into a full-scale war, according to PTI.

However, his comments on the Sir Creek area drew particular attention. “Any aggression by Pakistan in the Sir Creek area will be met with a resounding response that will change both history and geography,” Singh warned. He added, “In the 1965 war, the Indian Army had demonstrated the capability to reach Lahore. Today, in 2025, Pakistan should remember that one route to Karachi passes through the creek.”

Sir Creek is a 96-km-long tidal estuary located between Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch and Pakistan. The area remains disputed due to differing interpretations of maritime boundaries. The defence minister pointed out, “Despite 78 years of independence, the border dispute continues in the Sir Creek area. India has repeatedly tried to resolve this issue through dialogue, but Pakistan’s intentions remain flawed and unclear.”

Singh also expressed concern over Pakistan’s recent expansion of military infrastructure near the creek, describing it as a worrying sign. He reiterated that the Indian Army and Border Security Force vigilantly guard the country’s borders to ensure national security.

Regarding Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on May 7, Singh stated, “Pakistan made an unsuccessful attempt to penetrate India’s defence system from Leh to Sir Creek. However, in retaliatory action, Indian forces completely exposed the Pakistani air defence system and sent a message to the world that Indian forces can inflict heavy losses on Pakistan whenever and wherever they wish.”

Stressing India’s restraint during the operation, the Union Minister added, “Escalating it and starting a war was not the objective of Operation Sindoor. I am happy that Indian forces have successfully achieved all military objectives. But our fight against terrorism continues.”

He also praised the joint efforts of India’s armed forces, saying, “It was the jointness of our Army, Air Force, and Navy that executed Operation Sindoor in record time. Your strategy, courage, and capability have proven that India can defeat the enemy in every situation.”

Describing the three services as the “pillars” of India’s strength, Singh concluded, “When these services work together, we can effectively face every challenge.”

On the occasion of Dussehra, while performing the ‘shastra puja,’ Singh reflected, “For us, weapons are not just tools or displays of power. Weapons are a means to establish righteousness.”
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/rajnath-singh-celebrates-dussehra-2025-in-bhuj-warns-pakistan-against-aggression-in-sir-creek-23596895