The three-day ‘Crystal Edition’ celebrations will kick start on the 16th at Beach Luxury Hotel
News Desk
The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), one of Pakistan’s most anticipated and participated cultural and literary events, will kick start on February 16 at the Beach Luxury Hotel, according to a press release.
The festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of literature, art, and intellectual discourse.
Under the theme of ‘Sustainability: Words changing Mindsets,’ the 15th KLF will feature over 200 local and international speakers representing eight countries participating in 75 sessions covering a diverse range of topics including literature, economy, environment, education, and current affairs. Additionally, guests can expect 25 book launches alongside engaging activities such as drama, satire, exhibitions, film screenings, and various artistic expressions.
The inaugural event on Friday will include keynote speeches by noted town planner, architect, and activist Arif Hasan, and British-Palestinian lawyer and writer Selma Dabbagh, followed by a performance of Faiz’s poetry by Nighat Choudhry, an internationally acclaimed classical dancer.
Over the weekend, KLF will host distinguished speakers including Jordanian academic Joseph Massad, political scientist Dr. Martin Axmann, award-winning journalist Hasnain Kazim, acclaimed novelist and writer Mohsin Hamid, French journalist and novelist Kenize Mourad, fiction writer Claire Chambers, poets Michael Cirelli and Ronya Othman, poets Zehra Nigah and Kishwar Naheed, short story writer Noorul Huda Shah, and novelist Bina Shah among others.
There will be sessions on Urdu poetry, sustainability, political reforms, and a grand Mushaira presided over by noted poet of Urdu language, Iftikhar Arif.
Moreover, different sessions will feature insightful discussions on books, ethical governance, urban dynamics, comedy, storytelling, human rights, and sustainability offering guests a rich tapestry of intellectual engagement.
Former ambassador and editor Maleeha Lodhi’s book Pakistan: Search for Stability will be launched. A special homage to the legendary singer Noor Jehan in a session aptly titled “Noor Jahan Suroor Jahan” with Nazia Ejaz Khan, Salima Hashmi and Ahmed Ali Butt.
Another session, “Sustainability and the Evolving New World Order” will debate on ideas that are stable, inclusive, and beneficial for all.
The celebrations will close with keynote speeches by eminent scholars Najeeba Arif and Joseph Massad followed by a soul-stirring Sufi Qawwali performance by Qawwal Najmuddin Saifuddin and brothers.
Managing Director of OUP Pakistan, Arshad Saeed Husain, asked enthusiasts to participate in conversations that inspire change and challenge perspectives.
“It is a global bridge connecting hearts and minds.”
The idea is, not just to talk about these critical issues but to find solutions.
Ali Habib, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, HBL, said: “This is the second year in a row, HBL is spearheading the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF), a celebration of intellectual and cultural pursuits.”
KLF seeks to create an intellectual space in which the diversity and pluralism in Pakistan’s society and that expressed by authors from literary and cultural traditions beyond Pakistan’s borders can be freely accessible to people in an open and participatory manner.
Hence the organisers invite all enthusiasts to embark on this intellectual journey, celebrating the transformative power of words and nurturing a deeper appreciation for literature.