Pakistan, like other countries in South Asia, is rich in cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. However, despite being coherently diverse, the entire South Asian region in general and Pakistan in particular seems unable to translate this richness into a meaningful engagement within and hence, to develop a truly pluralist society that ensures equal rights, dignity and opportunities to each and every individual and groups rather than restricting it to a homogenous dominant majority ethnic or religious group. Thus, challenges for turning a diverse society into a pluralist one demand serious soul searching to identify the impediments for this journey. 

This presentation will suggest measures on how to establish pluralism and ascertain the role of civil society in this endeavour. Besides covering other aspects of diversity, the presentation will also explore its gender aspects and pluralism generally ignored during such key discussions.