February 10, 2025
ISLAMABAD – Omar Ahmed Khan was 14 when learned about comics, anime, and manga on the internet and was instantly drawn to them. But in the years that followed, he began struggling with depression, isolation, and a lack of motivation — a phase many teenagers undergo when transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.
Most kids his age didn’t share his ‘nerdy’ interests, making it hard for him to find a sense of belonging in typical childhood activities. He then came across the Japanese manga and anime series Jujutsu Kaisen and began admiring Satoru Gojo, a character who, despite immense hardships, carried on with a smile.
“Anime was like a reason for me to be alive,” he said. “It actually brought back my happiness because I was depressed for a few years. People think of it as just a TV series or cartoon, but for me, it’s more than that. It’s an inspiration.”
Now 23, Omar finally had the chance to embody his favourite character. Dressed as a goth version of Gojo at Geek Con, which took place at the Karachi Expo Centre on Saturday evening, he was surrounded by others who, like him, had found solace in anime and comics. Beneath the costumes lay something deeper: a shared connection to stories that had helped these young people find strength, identity, and belonging.
A milestone for Pakistan’s burgeoning ‘geek’ community
Anime, manga, and comics are forms of illustrated storytelling — anime being Japanese animation, manga its comic book counterpart, and comics referring to both Western and global graphic narratives. Over the years, they have grown into a huge subculture, uniting fans worldwide. In Pakistan, while still niche, the community is “expanding rapidly”, according to participants and organisers at Geek Con Karachi.
Yasir Obaid, 26, one of the organisers of Geek Con, told Images that Saturday’s event, held from 12pm to 9pm, drew thousands of anime, manga, and comic enthusiasts from across the metropolis.
Elaborating on the idea behind the event, he said Geek Con was born out of the lack of entertainment options for young people in Pakistan, even though comic conventions were a thriving subculture worldwide.
“It started many years ago when some of us launched Geek Haven as students because we were huge fans. We wanted to vibe and chill, so when we held our first comic con, we realised this was something we could pursue professionally,” he explained. “At Geek Haven, we organise pop culture events like conventions and gaming, along with other activities.”
According to Yasir, while his company has been hosting such events for some time, this was their fourth and largest one yet. “It was the first time we held it at the Expo Centre on such a large scale,” he said.
The event had something for every kind of geek. A live podcast kicked things off, leading to heated debates during Hot Takes. Esports champion Arsalan Ash made a special appearance, while gaming fans got their adrenaline rush with a Tekken Tournament and high-stakes finals.
Anime lovers were treated to live AMVs, a session on iconic anime openings, and a karaoke segment where fans belted out their favourite tracks.
The Cosplay Walk was the highlight of the day, with attendees showing off their creativity in elaborate costumes.
But the energy didn’t stop there: Anarchy kept the crowd hyped before a thrilling Battle of the Bands and a high-energy dance competition. Funk rock band Maakhi took the stage for a standalone performance, while video gaming content creator Bunto Cage added to the excitement with an appearance. Meanwhile, one cosplayer walked away with Rs150,000 in prize money, making it a memorable highlight of the day.
Not just for Gen Z
While pop culture conventions are often associated with younger audiences, organiser Filzah Baig, 24, said Geek Con Karachi welcomed fans of all ages.
“We put this together because we’re passionate about anime, manga, and comics, and a few years ago, events like this were almost non-existent in Pakistan. People are interested, but they don’t always have a space to express what they love, so we wanted to create that for them.”
She pointed out how the event was not for a particular age group. “It’s not just Gen Z, we have dads coming in with their two-year-olds in strollers because they never had this opportunity before. This is not an age-specific or class-specific event. Anyone interested in comics, anime, superheroes, Marvel, and DC comes here.”
Muhammad Omer Siddiqui, 40, who runs The Cave, a studio dedicated to handmade anime figures, had set up a stall at Geek Con to showcase his work. His journey into the fandom began long before events like these existed in Pakistan. “Anime, manga, and comic culture are already fully grown here. People know what to read or watch. But sculpting and 3D modelling are still new. My work is handmade, and I want to keep this tradition alive rather than move to 3D printing.” Despite belonging to a different generation, he said he had found his place in the evolving scene.
Hina, 34, who chose to be identified by her first name only, attended the event with her husband and toddler. A longtime manga fan, she shared how her love for the genre persisted despite societal norms. “I grew up abroad but moved to Pakistan after my marriage. It’s rare to see people my age here into anime and manga, especially as a mom. But my husband has been very supportive and brought me here as soon as I told him I wanted to go,” she told Images.
Cosplay, self-expression, and a judgment-free space
For many attendees, cosplay wasn’t just about dressing up but a way to express their admiration for their favourite characters and relive their stories of courage, wit, strength, and resilience.
Yusra Shahid, 22, dressed as Vanitas from The Case Study of Vanitas, talked about her journey. “I’ve loved anime since I was a kid, and I want to make anime art my profession. I used to watch cosplay events online and wondered, ‘When will it happen in Pakistan?’ So when I finally saw these events taking place, I was overjoyed. I designed my outfit myself because I enjoy the process.”
Sidra, 29, who also revealed her first name only, cosplayed Lord Shen from Kung Fu Panda 2, and said she loved the character. “He really portrays the evil in society right now, and no one has replicated him before, so I thought it would be a great addition to the cosplay line.”
Shees Ahmed Khan, 20, spent nearly a year creating his costume as Cyn from the Australian animated web series Murder Drones. “She’s one of my favourite characters — funny and scary at the same time. It took me eight to 10 months to create this get-up.”
Another cosplayer named Omer, 23, who came dressed up as Jinx from Arcane, explained why he chose to replicate a female character. “I wanted to come here as my favourite character because I admire her. There’s no judgment here: you can cosplay whoever resonates with you,” he said.
Hasan Adil, 17, who also cosplayed Ink Bendy from the video game Bendy and the Ink Machine, spoke about what drew him to the character. “I got into this back when the game first came out in 2017. I’ve always liked horror stuff, and the idea of a cartoon character being twisted and creepy really resonated with me.”
A long-awaited platform
Geek Con 2025 represented a long overdue space for many Pakistani fans to gather and express their passions. But for others, it was a refreshing change. Mahnoor Qazi, 25, attended out of curiosity. “I haven’t had an experience like this before. It’s very common internationally, so it should become popular in Pakistan, too. There is some resistance, but gradually, there will be more acceptance.”
Syeda Kashaf Fatima, 23, who dressed as Raven from Teen Titans, said the convention gave her a chance to connect with like-minded people. “I really like the energy and vibe of this character, as she’s so empowering. This event is a great platform for people to engage. Anime and manga are very trendy right now, so it’s great to see such gatherings happening here.”
Sustaining a community without support
Despite the growing popularity of anime and comics in Pakistan, the community struggles with a lack of sponsorship. Organisers rely entirely on ticket sales and stall fees to break even, reinvesting everything to keep the events alive.
“We’ve never had a sponsor. Our events are never profitable, but we break even. Everything we earn goes right back into the community. It took years of hard work to build this, and we’ll keep pushing forward,” enthused Yasir, the organiser.
A place to belong
As the event came to a close, Omar Ahmed Khan reflected on what made it truly special for him. “There’s barely any support for this community. People still see it as cringe or weird, like it shouldn’t be happening at this scale. But this isn’t just about dressing up: it’s about expressing who we are.” Looking around at the crowd, he smiled. “I love it. I love meeting new people. It’s a great way to connect and make friends. Everyone here is so nice.”