 Managing Director Arshad Saeed Husain shared details about the event at a press conference.){kind=link}
Goof news for book lovers; the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) is back for its 16th edition. It will now host over 200 writers, thinkers and poets from Pakistan and its diaspora. Karachi shall host the event from the 7th to the 9th of February, where the venue will be the Beach Luxury Hotel.
A Festival Rooted in Pakistan’s Literary Heritage
Oxford University Press (OUP) Managing Director Arshad Saeed Husain shared details about the event at a press conference. He explained that this year’s theme, Narratives from the Soil, highlights Pakistan’s rich literary heritage. The festival will honour literary greats from the past and present, including those living abroad.
Husain reflected on the origins of KLF, which began in 2010. The goal was simple: to provide a free and open platform for book lovers and to promote reading culture. Since then, KLF has inspired many other literary events across the country.
A Packed Schedule with Diverse Sessions
This year, the festival will feature over 70 sessions alongside 26 book launches. The programme comprises panel discussions, dramatic reading performances and the oft-awaited Urdu mushaira (a poetry recital). For the first time, there will be two mushairas, one for youth and the other for established poets. Other key events in the festival include English recitals, film shows, qawwali and other cultural activities.
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Key Guests and Speakers
Sindh’s chief minister will inaugurate the event. The opening ceremony will feature keynote speeches by Syeda Arifa Zehra and Fakir Aijazuddin. On the closing day, Asghar Nadeem Syed and UK-based journalist Mishal Husain will address the audience.
Sessions Focused on Youth and Society
KLF remains a primarily literary event, with 70% of sessions dedicated to English, Urdu and Sindhi literature. However, discussions will also cover topics like culture, education and climate change. A special segment will run for two days, focusing on young people in Pakistan.
Recognising Literary Excellence
On the festival’s opening day, four literary awards will be announced. The categories include English fiction, Urdu prose, Urdu poetry and regional language books in Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto and Punjabi.
A New Venue Suggestion
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, attending in place of the chief minister, praised KLF for enriching the city’s cultural landscape. He suggested that future editions of the festival be held at Frere Hall, offering full support from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.
Shortlisted Books for the English Fiction Prize
Prominent writer Muneeza Shamsie announced the four finalists for the English Fiction Prize:
The Election by Omar Shahid Hamid
I Left You Behind by Nazneen Shaikh
Akbar in Wonderland by Umber Khairi
The Monsoon War by Bina Shah
The Power of Literature
Journalist Ghazi Salahuddin emphasised that understanding literature is perhaps more important than political stability. He stressed the need to recognise the power of storytelling in shaping a society.
The Karachi Literature Festival remains one of the most essential events for both writers and readers. KLF 2024 is sure to be memorable and entertaining for the attendees with its captivating sessions, discussions, and cultural performances, making it a must for literature enthusiasts from Pakistan.
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