
A symbol of courage and integrity
Lari's decision to reject the award is a profound act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Wolf Prize, which aims to promote 'friendly relations between peoples', stands in stark contrast to the ongoing suffering in Gaza. Her refusal highlights the urgency of acknowledging and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. As she eloquently stated, 'I had to do it, I had no choice, I did it, what else can we do?' Her words resonate with the sentiments of millions who feel helpless but seek ways to voice their opposition to injustice.
Lari has made a lasting impact on both architecture and social activism. Her work spans from grand structures to sustainable, low-cost housing for marginalised communities, notably aiding flood victims in Sindh. Beyond design, she prioritises social responsibility, earning prestigious accolades such as the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture and the 2020 Jane Drew Prize. Her work embodies ethical, inclusive architecture that empowers marginalised communities and reshapes architecture's societal role.
By refusing the Wolf Prize, Lari has reinforced the idea that professional excellence must be accompanied by moral responsibility. Her courageous stand reminds the world that architecture is not just about building structures; it is about shaping societies and standing up for justice. In doing so, she has become an inspiration not only for architects but for all individuals who seek to align their professional achievements with ethical principles.
Dr Intikhab Ulfat
Karachi
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Israel recalls Gaza negotiators after Hamas responds to ceasefire plan
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel said on Thursday it had recalled its negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks with Hamas, as international pressure mounted for a breakthrough to end nearly two years of devastating war. Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas delegations in Qatar for more than two weeks, but the indirect talks have so far failed to yield an elusive truce. International concern is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings that 'mass starvation' was spreading. The office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that after Hamas had submitted its response to mediators on the latest ceasefire proposal, the Israeli negotiators were being brought back for consultations. 'We appreciate the efforts of mediators Qatar and Egypt and the efforts of (US special) envoy (Steve) Witkoff to bring about a breakthrough,' said a statement from Netanyahu's office. A Palestinian source familiar with the talks told AFP earlier that Hamas's response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war. Gaza hospital says 21 children died from malnutrition and starvation in 72 hours The White House said on Wednesday that US envoy Witkoff was meeting 'key leaders' from the region to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Witkoff was reportedly on the Italian island of Sardinia on Thursday, Israeli media said. Key demands Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces had killed at least 40 people since dawn on Thursday, including six waiting for aid. In Khan Yunis, in the south, Umm al-Abd Nassar urged Hamas to secure a truce after her son was killed in an air strike on a camp for the displaced. 'They need to do something. Enough with this destruction and people dying,' she told AFP. UNRWA says some Gaza staff starving as malnutrition soars Israel's military said Hamas targeted a food distribution site in the south of the territory on Wednesday. The Palestinian group, though, claimed they had shelled 'an enemy command and control site'. Through 21 months of fighting, both sides have clung to long-held positions, preventing two short-lived truces from being converted into a lasting ceasefire. The talks in Doha began on July 6 to try to reach an agreement on a truce that would also see the release of Israeli hostages. Of the 251 hostages, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. But the talks have dragged on without a breakthrough, with each side blaming the other for refusing to budge on their key demands. Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers For Israel, dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities is non-negotiable, while Hamas demands firm guarantees on a lasting truce, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the free flow of aid into Gaza. 'Blockade' Israel has rejected accusations that it is responsible for Gaza's deepening hunger crisis, which the World Health Organization has called 'man-made' and France blamed on an Israeli 'blockade'. Instead, it accuses Hamas of preventing supplies from being distributed and looting aid for themselves or to sell at inflated prices as well as shooting at people seeking handouts. International news organisations, including AFP, urged Israel on Thursday to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, with concern that a lack of food is putting their lives at risk. Israel maintains that it is allowing aid into the Palestinian territory but that international relief agencies were failing to pick it up for distribution. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body overseeing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said on Thursday that around 70 food trucks had been unloaded at aid crossings the previous day. 'Over 150 were collected by the UN and international organisations from the Gazan side, but over 800 still await pick up,' it said in a post on X. Aid agencies have said permissions from Israel are still limited, and coordination to safely move trucks to where they are needed is a major challenge in an active war zone. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,587 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.


Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz hails World Bank position on IWT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised the World Bank for its support of Pakistan's position on the Indus Waters Treaty, criticising India's 'unilateral and illegal' actions that he said undermine the landmark agreement. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the attack but provided no evidence. Islamabad strongly denied the allegations. On April 23, India closed the Wagah border crossing, revoked Pakistani visas, and announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan condemned the move as an 'act of war' and responded by sealing the Wagah border from its side. In a meeting with Ousmane Dione, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan's commitment to upholding international law, pursuing peaceful dialogue, and promoting regional prosperity. Regional Vice President of the World Bank Ousmane Dione called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 24, 2025 The prime minister expressed appreciation for the World Bank's longstanding partnership and described its backing as aligned with Pakistan's lawful stance on water rights under the treaty. Shehbaz also acknowledged the strategic role of the Country Partnership Framework in supporting Pakistan's national priorities, particularly in the areas of energy, climate change, human development, and governance reform. Read: World Bank approves $194m for education, water security in Balochistan He thanked the Bank for its timely assistance during the 2022 floods, which enabled Pakistan to launch emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts for affected communities. Dione reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to expanding collaboration with Pakistan and lauded the government's reform agenda aimed at ensuring macroeconomic stability and long-term sustainability. Both sides expressed a shared resolve to deepen cooperation in the coming years to accelerate development and improve livelihoods. Earlier, the World Bank reaffirmed its support for Pakistan's economic stability during a separate meeting held on Wednesday between Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema and Ousmane Dione at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Islamabad. According to an official statement from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Bank appreciated Pakistan's reform efforts and progress under the Country Partnership Framework. Both sides discussed avenues for deepening cooperation in critical sectors, with an emphasis on ensuring sustained recovery and long-term financial resilience.


Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Reciprocal tariff: Pakistan officials to meet Trump administration, Bloomberg reports
A Pakistani delegation will soon meet the administration of US President Donald Trump in a bid to reach an agreement on a trade deal, Bloomberg quoted US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce as saying. In a US Department of State press briefing a day ago, Bruce said she will attend the meeting between the Pakistani delegation and US officials. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar is currently visiting the United States to attend high-level signature events of Pakistan's UN Security Council (UNSC) presidency in New York, as well as for important bilateral engagements in Washington, as per the Foreign Office (FO). Islamabad is looking forward to the 29% reciprocal tariffs to be lifted that the Trump administration levied initially, Bloomberg said. The South Asian country has proposed to increase imports of soybeans and cotton, while it already is the second-largest buyer of US cotton by value, after China. Whereas, Pakistan's biggest export destination is the United States. Bilateral ties between Pakistan and US have improved in recent times, with Trump's holding a rare meeting with Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House. The FO stated on July 19 that FM Dar's visit is an indication of Pakistan's increasing importance in both its relations with the US and the global landscape. Aurangzeb meets US Secy Commerce Moreover, in order to complete a trade agreement, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has also visited the United States and met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington recently to advance economic cooperation, as per the Ministry of Finance. Reuters last week reported that the negotiations, focused on reciprocal tariffs, are part of a broader push to reset economic ties at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments and Pakistan's efforts to avoid steep US duties on exports.