On the 12th of February, Shalimar Garden aglow with lights that stretched far and wide, painted the sky in warmth and color as the esteemed ADA Awards marked its fourth cycle. A night that honoured outstanding accomplishments of Pakistan’s creative talents in architecture, design and art. Curated and executed under the meticulous guidance and tireless efforts of founder.

Maria Aslam and her team, the awards have significantly contributed to the creative industry. Since their launch in 2018 as Pakistan’s sole multi-discipline national awards, they have continuously worked to spark dialogue and encourage collaboration by showcasing the exceptional ideas emerging in Pakistan and the brilliant minds behind them.

The rigorous, year-long process of the fourth cycle of the ADA Awards (2024–25) began with bringing together a distinguished panel of national and international jurors, experts in architecture, interiors, art, and design. Committed to upholding the highest standards, they evaluated innovative and original submissions from talents across the region. The esteemed international jury, for this cycle, brought together celebrated experts from across the globe, including the UAE, the USA, Malaysia, Iran, the UK, Singapore, the Middle East and Pakistan. The architecture jury, chaired by Yasmeen Cheema included notable names such as George Arbid and Dalian Suryawinata, Saifuddin Ahmed, Yahya Jan and Ghayur Obaid. The art and design panels were chaired by Imran Qureshi and Tazeen Hussain, and brought together prominent creatives including Hammad Nasar, Dr. Venetia Porter and Shehnaz Ismail and Shahzad Nawaz.

The event kicked off on February 10th with an evening of lively literary discourse and inspiration.

Renowned artist and academic Salima Hashmi sat in conversation with Zoreen Murtaza and Waqas Khan to celebrate the launch of his book, A Man With A Pen. This successful spirit of collaboration was further celebrated on the 11th of February when ADA Awards came together with Beaconhouse National University (BNU) to organize a compelling seminar at the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts (MDSVAD) auditorium, an event that exemplified the power of global engagement, bringing together creatives, academics, and industry leaders from around the world under one roof.

The presentations, led by the jurors and showcasing their brilliant projects and research, were made open to students, enlightening them about the shifting paradigms of design and its role in shaping contemporary discourse. The discussions featured insightful contributions from Saifuddin Ahmed, Yahya Jan, and several other notable figures. Additionally, an engaging panel discussion titled Disruptors, Activists & Impact: “By Design” brought together notable academics and creatives, including Salima Hashmi, Durre Shehwar, Ali Habib and Imran Qureshi, and was moderated by Tazeen Hussain.

Against this backdrop of exchange and discovery, the seminar stood as a testament to the power of collaboration, providing emerging creatives with invaluable exposure to industry leaders and their expertise. As discussions unfolded, the event underscored the significance of collective efforts in shaping the future of design.

As 12th of February arrived, Shalimar Gardens was adorned with glowing lights, as creative minds across Pakistan and the globe came together to celebrate innovation, creativity and ingenuity. The gardens provided the perfect setting to showcase their beauty to both local and international guests, many of whom were seeing their grandeur for the first time.

For the founding Director, Maria Aslam, the night and location held deep personal significance as it was situated in the very space where the first Aga Khan Awards were held in 1980. A week earlier, the world grieved the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, a visionary leader and humanitarian whose influence spanned cultures and nations. This furthered the significance of the night for Maria Aslam as she notes: “It was an emotional moment because on a personal level I have so much to learn from this institute [Aga Khan], because they were the one who actually set the guidelines, who made the framework in the first cycle of the ADA Awards”.

Now on its fourth cycle, another successful night commenced, spotlighting projects across a number of categories. Honouring 13 creatives from the fields of art, design and architecture. Additionally, this year’s ADA Awards introduced two distinctive awards. The Environment Leadership Award was presented to Still Life by Karim Khan, an installation that highlighted a powerful dialogue on the impact of global warming for the artist’s birthplace, Hunza. The Socially Responsive Award recognized Impact BBDO’s Audio Nikahnama, a groundbreaking campaign by Easypaisa that brought transformative and accessible innovation to the social sphere. Both distinguished awards being presented to creatives from Pakistan held immense value for ADA Awards, as their true aim remains to showcase the excellence across Pakistan that often goes unspoken in the global sphere. Maria proudly states: “I think we are the unannounced cultural ambassadors of Pakistan in the arts and culture and we take them forward to the other parts of the world”.

Two luminaries were also presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rafique Ahmed (Feica) was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Art, a notable political cartoonist of Pakistan. Anwar Said was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Architecture for his significant contributions to modernist architecture of the country.

The three-day event was packed with dynamic discourse and a celebration of creativity, highlighting innovation and artistry, core to the ADA Awards commitment. With each cycle, ADA continues to solidify its role in shaping Pakistan’s creative landscape, encouraging a globally recognized, forward-thinking, and socially conscious sphere. The spread of ADA message is made possible through its Media Partners the Jang Media Group

Maria Aslam aptly states: “The three days were immense and intense… everyday had a different flavor to culture, arts and knowledge sharing…it unfolded with immense knowledge sharing, the three days celebration of the ADA Awards fourth cycle leading to the finale.”

About the author: Rabbiya Farooq is an interdisciplinary creative and a graduate of Beaconhouse National University. Currently serving as the Manager of Outreach and Coordination for BNU's UNESCO Chair on Inclusion through Art, she also works as a teaching associate.