About Us

The Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) is the oldest think tank in Pakistan. Established in 1947, it is a non – official, non – party, and non – profit making body. It seeks to encourage and facilitate the understanding of international affairs and to promote the scientific study of international politics, economics and jurisprudence.

The Institute owes its origins to the 19th and 20th centuries’ human concern for peace which resulted in the setting up of institutions and councils of world affairs in many countries of the world. Its precursor, The Indian Institute of International Affairs (IIIA) was established in Delhi in 1936 and its members voted to move it to Pakistan on the eve of Partition. Khwaja Sarwar Hasan, then its Secretary, shifted its library and all its movable assets to Karachi in August 1947. Initially, Pakistan Institute of International Affairs was affiliated with the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London and the Institute of Pacific Relations, New York. Additionally, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan formally inaugurated the Institute on 26 March 1948. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1960. The institute publishes a quarterly journal named as Pakistan Horizon which was founded in 1948.

The Institute disseminates research and knowledge about international developments, particularly those having a direct bearing on the foreign policy challenges of Pakistan, by arranging lectures, seminars and roundtables holding conferences and publishing a quarterly journal Pakistan Horizon.