Throughout history, when the great empires broke up, whether it be the fall of the Roman or Byzantine empires or of the Caliphate, you will find that the youth had lost its dynamism, its personality and its imagination.

If I were asked today where lay Pakistan’s greatest potential for the future, my answer without hesitation would be – the students. It is upon them, upon their integrity, their intelligence and their moral fabric, that depends the future of their country.

At its best, architecture is an inherently pluralistic enterprise - one that honours diversity - including diversity within and among Islamic communities. At its best, architecture will help people to come together across old divides rather than re-enforcing those divides and isolating one group from another.

In my view, a healthy life, for an individual or a community, means finding a way to relate the values of the past, the realities of the present, and the opportunities of the future.