The 5th cycle of IAP Kausar Bashir Ahmad Award was carried out in April 2017. Eighteen accredited schools of architecture throughout Pakistan were invited to nominate the best thesis projects under the domain of Socially Responsive Architecture. Maximum two entries were requested from each school and in return 23 entries were received from 13 schools. A panel of jurors reviewed the entries anonymously and declared ‘Reclaiming public space at Thokar Niaz Baig’ by Muhammad Nisar Ali Mirza from Beaconhouse National University, Lahore as the winner of the Award. Two honorable mentions were also given to two students; Sameen Jawed and Fatema Ifan Ali from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi. The jury panel included:
- Ali Zafar Qazi, President IAP
- Arshad Faruqui, Chairman Board of Architectural Education
- Nasir Iqbal, Nominee IAP
- Salim Aleemuddin, KBA CARE
- Arif Belgaumi, Nominee KBA CARE
The Award Ceremony was hosted by IAP-Rawalpindi Islamabad Chapter in September 2017.