Habib University hosted its annual Final Year Project (FYP) Showcase on May 16, bringing together more than 100 undergraduate research projects exploring subjects including artificial intelligence, climate change, gender, urban security and cultural preservation.
The exhibition featured projects by graduating students from the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and the Dhanani School of Science and Engineering (DSSE). Visitors included industry leaders, academics, writers, donors and members of the public, who engaged with student-led art installations, social research, short films and technology-driven applications.
Many of the projects were rooted in the lived realities of Karachi while addressing issues with broader global relevance. Students explored how technology shapes human experience, how women navigate public and private spaces in Pakistan, and how digital tools can preserve indigenous languages and cultural memory.
One of the featured projects, NeuroZawiya, proposed a platform designed to support neurodivergent students experiencing executive dysfunction. Developed by Computer Science students, the project highlighted how individuals with ADHD and dyslexia often face barriers when navigating complex academic systems and called for more accessible educational environments.
Another project, Hifazat and the Home: Negotiating Domestic Security in Karachi, Pakistan, examined how fear and perceived insecurity influence household spending and urban design in Karachi. The researchers introduced the concept of a “Phantom Siege,” arguing that many middle-class security practices are shaped more by anticipation and anxiety than by direct experiences of crime.
In the humanities category, Songs from a Burning Harmonium: Sonic Reconstruction of Identity among Afghan Refugees in Urban Karachi documented classical Afghan melodies preserved within refugee communities in the city. Through ethnographic research, the project explored how music and instruments such as the harmonium help sustain cultural identity and memory after displacement.
Several projects also focused on the ethical governance of artificial intelligence and the development of systems intended to support — rather than replace — human labor.
The showcase further highlighted collaborations between students and industry partners through the University’s Office of Takhleeq. Partnerships with Dawlance and Toyota addressed practical challenges including manufacturing waste reduction and industrial fault management.
“The students have showcased really amazing projects, beyond my expectation. They have put so much effort, and they’ll surely succeed in the future,” said one parent attending the event.
Habib University described the showcase as part of its broader commitment to positioning undergraduate research in the Global South as a meaningful contributor to applied problem-solving. The institution argues that Karachi’s overlapping challenges — from climate pressures to social fragmentation and transport stress — create an important environment for research capable of generating impact beyond Pakistan.