A Decade of Passion and Perseverance: The Journey of IMPC H-8 Dramatics Club (2016–2026)

What began as one teacher’s dream has evolved into an award-winning theatrical platform. The inauguration of the IMPC H-8 Dramatics Club Office on 15 October 2026 marks not merely the opening of a room, but the recognition of a decade-long struggle to establish theatre as an essential part of college life.

Some journeys begin with a plan; others begin with a passion that refuses to fade. The journey of the IMPC H-8 Dramatics Club belongs to the latter. For Dr. Imran Khan, Assistant Professor of English, Staff Secretary of IMPC H-8, playwright, and Chairman of the Dramatics Club, the inauguration of the club’s office represents the culmination of nearly ten years of persistence, creative struggle, and an unwavering belief in the educational power of theatre.

When Dr. Imran Khan joined IMPC H-8 on 14 June 2016, he brought with him a vision of making theatre a meaningful part of students’ educational and creative lives. For him, drama was never merely entertainment. It was a medium through which students could develop confidence, communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and an understanding of human and social realities. Yet, during the initial three to four years, the effort to establish a sustainable theatrical platform remained a struggle. The passion existed, but the space, resources, and institutional recognition needed to sustain theatre were still to be secured.

In 2019, Dr. Imran Khan was appointed Chairman of the Dramatics Club, and the initiative acquired an official identity. However, having a club on paper was not the same as having an active theatrical institution. The real challenge was to transform that identity into regular productions, student participation, and a culture of performance. The struggle continued, demanding patience and a willingness to keep working even when the desired results were slow to materialise.

A significant turning point came in 2021, when Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khalid assumed the principalship of the college and helped revive the club’s activities. The encouragement of Prof. Sagheer Ahmed Mirani, Vice Principal (Academics) and Head of the Department of English, was equally important. His support, together with Dr. Khalid’s recognition of the club, helped strengthen its foundations and turn the long-standing vision into practical activity. Later, Prof. Athar Ul Islam, during his tenure as Principal, also formed part of the institutional leadership under which the club continued its development. The journey thus reflects not only the persistence of its founder but also the importance of colleagues and administrators who recognised the value of an initiative and helped it grow.

The first major breakthrough came in 2023, when the club presented its first annual play, Qeemat, on 29 November in the College Hall. Written by Dr. Imran Khan and directed by Muhammad Ali Farooqi, the production gave concrete form to years of effort. It attracted appreciation for its social message and disciplined performance, bringing the club wider recognition in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. For Dr. Imran Khan, who had struggled for years to create a place for theatre, the production was proof that the dream could become a reality.

The year 2025 transformed the club’s standing. Its second annual production, Maids on Demand, directed by Muhammad Ali Farooqi, was staged at the Rawalpindi Arts Council on 24 June 2025. More importantly, the club achieved remarkable success in inter-university and national-level competitions. On 24 April, its production Aas, directed by Muhammad Ali Farooqi, secured first position at the Inter-Universities Drama Competition at the Rawalpindi Arts Council, winning awards for Best Drama, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. At Rising Pakistan 2025, the club secured first position with Nijaat and second position with Aas. On 13 August, Qeemat won first position at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Inter-University Drama Competition, followed by victory at the SIST 2025 competition organised by Shifa Society at Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University on 27 September. In January 2026, the club continued its success at the National Drama Competition at the University of Wah, receiving awards for Best Play, Best Director, and Best Female Actress.

An important aspect of this journey is that Dr. Imran Khan is not only the Chairman of the Dramatics Club but also the writer of the plays that have carried the club’s work to the stage and competitions. His creative writing provides the foundation for these performances, while his administrative and organisational efforts help sustain the platform on which students can bring those scripts to life. His work extends well beyond theatre: as Staff Secretary, he remains engaged in staff affairs, institutional coordination, and college activities, while his involvement in student-focused initiatives reflects a broader commitment to the development and flourishing of the college community. His journey demonstrates how one educator can contribute across academic, administrative, literary, and artistic platforms while continuing to pursue a vision that once struggled to find space.

No such journey, however, is sustained by one person alone. Muhammad Ali Farooqi, the club’s director and a staunch supporter, has been a constant presence wherever the students perform. His dedication to directing, shaping productions, and carrying theatrical work forward has been central to the club’s achievements. He has stood beside the team through performances and competitions, helping transform scripts and ideas into compelling stage productions. Prof. Abrar Bazmi, choreographer, actor, and acting mentor, has also played a vital role by training students, refining their performances, and helping them develop the confidence and discipline required for the stage.

Within the Department of English, Danish Ikhlas Abbasi, a member of the Literary Club and Production Head of the Dramatics Club, has provided consistent practical support. His role in managing production arrangements, coordinating activities, and handling situations wherever the club performs has been invaluable. Alongside the institutional encouragement of Prof. Sagheer Ahmed Mirani, Dr. Muhammad Khalid, and Prof. Athar Ul Islam, such contributions have helped turn an individual aspiration into a collective achievement. The club’s story is ultimately one of persistence strengthened by teamwork, mentorship, and institutional cooperation.

After nearly a decade of struggle, the journey reached a deeply meaningful milestone on 15 October 2026, when the IMPC H-8 Dramatics Club Office was officially inaugurated. The inauguration marked more than the allocation of a physical space. It signified that theatre had earned a recognised place within the institution and that the students engaged in the performing arts deserved a dedicated environment in which their work could be planned, developed, and sustained.

The ceremony was attended by distinguished personalities from theatre, television, media, and academia, including theatre director and writer William Pervaiz, senior actor and television host Hamoon Rasheed Chohan, senior producer PTV Anikur Rehman, senior producer and host Ammad Gul, and senior director and production head Kashif Bayg. The college leadership and administration were also represented, including Prof. Sagheer Ahmed Mirani, Muhammad Azam Azam, Prof. Athar Ul Islam, and the incumbent Principal, Prof. Ehsam Ullah Baig. Their presence added significance to an occasion that celebrated not merely an office but the recognition of a sustained artistic and educational effort.

The new office will serve as a centre for script development, creative discussions, production planning, meetings, and preparations for upcoming performances and competitions. It will provide future generations of students with a permanent base from which to explore their abilities, learn the discipline of theatre, and participate in meaningful artistic work. The club’s next chapter includes its third annual production, Nijam, written by Dr. Imran Khan and directed by Muhammad Ali Farooqi.

The journey from 2016 to 2026 demonstrates that meaningful institutional change rarely happens overnight. A passion must survive uncertainty; an idea must acquire an identity; that identity must be translated into sustained activity; and the resulting work must demonstrate its value. The IMPC H-8 Dramatics Club has travelled through each of these stages. From the early years of seeking space for theatre, through its formal organisation in 2019 and revival in 2021, to its first annual production in 2023 and national-level achievements in 2025 and 2026, the club has steadily established its identity.

For Dr. Imran Khan, the inauguration is both a personal milestone and a collective achievement. It recognises the persistence of a teacher who continued to write, organise, mentor, and advocate for theatre while serving the institution in several other capacities. It also acknowledges the directors, mentors, colleagues, administrators, and students whose contributions helped transform his vision into reality.