The Second Floor

PeaceNiche, a not-for-profit NGO, registered under the Societies Act of 1860, is committed to becoming a vibrant centre of Pakistan’s developing civil society. PeaceNiche is a social entrepreneurship project that blends the best of business practice with the non-profit urge to make meaning rather than focusing purely on the bottom line.

The Second Floor (T2F) is the first project of PeaceNiche. A community space for open dialogue, T2F features:

• Community Space for Conversation and Discourse
• Platform for Debates, Discussions, Talks, and Creative/Performing Arts
• Gallery Space for Emerging Designers, Artists, and Photographers
• Bookshop
• Coffeehouse
• Mentoring Space

Raison d’être

PeaceNiche/T2F was born out of a desire to enact transformational change in urban Pakistani society. At one end of the spectrum, capitalism is booming and the new religion is consumerism. Those interested in the betterment of lives tend to focus on feeding the needy, educating the poor, and building hospitals.

PeaceNiche/T2F wishes to focus on the issue of Intellectual Poverty Alleviation without which no form of social change is likely to take root or prosper. Political will is largely absent in the middle and upper classes owing to a variety of reasons, ranging from apathy to disillusionment. Young people, who are touted as future leaders lack awareness, access to role models, and the desire to move out of their comfort zone. It is essential, if our society is to move forward in any meaningful manner, that the youth and middle classes be engaged and shaken out of a dangerous state of lethargy.

PeaceNiche/T2F has its eyes set on the urban city dweller who has had little or no access to culture, including art, music, literature, and film and certainly no platform for creative expression and discourse. By sensitizing the urban elite and middle classes to global issues that affect humanity, through lectures, discussions, talks, and new media interventions, PeaceNiche/T2F aims to build political will, thought leadership, and a genuine desire to make a difference.

The PeaceNiche Board

PeaceNiche is governed by a group of visionary individuals, including writers, poets, activists, musicians, designers, bankers, educators, and doctors.

Founder Members

Mahenaz Mahmud [Chairperson]
Director Program Development, Teachers’ Resource Centre
Academic Coordinator, Institute of Early Childhood Education

Sabeen Mahmud [Director]
COO, Beyond Information Technology Solutions (b.i.t.s.)
Member, Governing Council, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)
Founder Member, All Pakistan Music Conference
Founder Member, Citizens’ Archive of Pakistan

Seema Malik [Treasurer]
Director, Teachers’ Resource Centre
Principal, PECHS Girls’ School

Nuzhat Kidvai
Education Technology Advisor, Beaconhouse School System
Women’s Rights Activist

Ghazala Aziz
Dermatologist
Managing Trustee, Accident & Emergency Foundation, Jinnah Hospital

Zaheer Kidvai
CEO, b.i.t.s.
Board Member, Virtual University & Textile Institute of Pakistan
Advisor, Beaconhouse National University
Education Technology Consultant

Sonia Rehman
Actor and Producer

Advisory Council

Asif Farrukhi
Writer, Translator, Critic, and Publisher

Ameena Saiyid - OBE
MD, Oxford University Press

Arshad Mahmud
Composer, Musicologist

Zafar Masud
Barclays Bank

Deepak Perwani
Fashion Designer

Saqib Malik
Film Maker

Faraz Minai
Investment Banker

Musadiq Sanwal
Editor - DAWN Internet Edition
Producer, Musician, Actor, Journalist

Mohsin Sayeed
Journalist

Mohsin Siddiqui
Human Resources, Shell Oil